I'm stuck in self-isolation and started compiling a list of Soul/R&B records (plus the odd reggae cut) about playing cards, the horses, gambling etc., that I could turn into a playlist. Metaphor songs welcome. I seek help from this esteemed site. Here's one to kick off the thread.

 

Edited January 4, 20223 yr by Dukeburgundy

Nancy Wilcox  - Gamblers Blues 

 

Willie Tee I Peeped Your Hole Card

billy butler i'll bet you 

diplomats cards on the table

o.v wright ace of spades

 

Used to love this...

Is it his girl or his horse?

Ed

 

"Seven The Loser" - Eric Lomax

"Ten To One" - Lou Roberts

"I'll Bet You" - Theresa Lindsey

 

Edited January 4, 20223 yr by D9 Ktf

Len Jewell - Bettin on Love.

 

Only one line in it but it's not a metaphorical one:

Genie Brooks - Helping hand

Best of both worlds (Winfield Parker) lp only

 

Obvious but essential

https://youtu.be/9uc3-RYptfk

Ernest Fitzgerald - Ace in the hole

Benny Curtis Dirty Hearts.

One of the most covered/recorded songs ever.."STAG-O-LEE".

I'd go for Lloyd Price or Pacific Gas &Electric

Not a song about gambling Greg but by a singer with a gamblers name Roland Dice ( Olen Boudreaux aka Bobby Angelle)

 

Little Milton covering both sides of a card game - 

 

 

 

Bob n Earl - Harlem Shuffle

Go on smile! 

Paul

"The Cheater" - Bob Kuban!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll get mi long leather.

 

 

 

Spencer Davis Group - Keep On Running

A little tenuous maybe , Voices of East Harlem, Cashing In 

Ray, Goodman & Brown - Gambled on your love

Isley Brothers - Winner takes all

Quadraphonics - Betcha if you check it out

Dells - Betcha never been loved like this before

Dazz Band - Gamble with my love

 

And, of course, Kenny Gamble and his Gamble label....

Len Barry - Hearts are trump

Paul

A few more for the list-

O'Kaysions- "Deal Me In"

Tico and the Triumphs- "Cards Of Love"

Alicia Meyers- "If You Play Your Cards Right" 

Persuaders- "Gamblin' On A Sure Shot" 

Geraldine Hunt ,Winner takes All ,

James Carr, A Losing Game ,

The Ideals, I Got Lucky ,

Gene Chandler, Bet You Never Thought , 

 

 

Edited January 4, 20223 yr by Happy Feet

First choice- the player

First choice - gamble on love you can lose.

The Okaysions, Deal me in,

Bobby Hutton ,Lend a Hand,

Marvin Gaye ,Lucky Lucky Me ,

Wilmer and the Dukes ,Give Me One More Chance

Maxine Brown ,One in a Million , ( a bit like my chance of winning the lottery ) 

Goodnight folks ,the list is getting longer or even more tenuous , it's only fun 

BB King - Gambler's Blues (Blues is King)

Bobby Bland - If I Weren't A Gambler (Soul of a Man)

Marvin Gaye - Life Is A Gamble (Trouble Man)

Velvet - Bet If You Ask Around (Perception 543)

Sam Dees - Roll Seven (Lovers Do)

 

Thank you  for all the suggestions. I was expecting a relatively quiet response and to get so many suggestions , some that are unknown to me , is a delight. What knowledge exists on this side. Here's one from my personal list.

 

Edited January 5, 20223 yr by Dukeburgundy
grammar

some great ones there, these are getting a bit weak, but...

Universal Minds - I Betcha 

Norman Rickett - Player Play On

Dooley Silverspoon - Game Players

Benny Spellman - Fortune Teller

The Impressions - Were a Winner

Contours – I’m A Winner 

George & Gwen McCrae - Winners Together or Losers Apart

Just Bobby - I'm A Winner

Garland Green - You Played On A Player

Ben Moore - I Got a Winner in Yo

Maurice Williams -  How To Pick A Winner 

The Servicemen - I Need A Helping Hand

Candi Staton / Bob Fowler - You Got the Upper Hand 

True Reflection - Beer Cans And Empty Hands

Chuck Jackson - Hand It Over

The Dealers - You got it

and how about?

 

Abba - The Winner Takes It All

Gene McDaniels - Walk with a Winner

One more for the list- this is not the same song as the Little Milton tune already posted- 

 

No soul songs but here are a couple of (early) reggae ones (incl ska, rocksteady) for inspiration:

Derrick Morgan - No dice

Hortense & Alton - Don’t gamble with love (ballad)

King Cry Cry (Prince Far I) - Deck of cards

King CC - Rasta poker

Jimmy Cliff - One eyed jacks

Young Freddie (McGregor) - Drink and gamble

Nat Cole - Pack of cards

Lynn Taitt & the Jets - El Casino Royale

Shenley Duffus - A Bet cha don’t know

Basil Gabbidon - I bet you don’t know

Don Dummond - Lucky seven

The Techniques - Love is a gamble

King Edwards - Russian roulette

The Pioneers - Jackpot

The Maytals - Domino

Sound Dimension - Straight flush

Don Drummond - Ruyal flush

The Kilowatts - Slot machine

Candy - Ace of hearts

Owen Gray - Tumblin’ dice

And some interesting labels of course: Dice, Jackpot, Spade Records, … 

 

 

And Masqueraders, one more chance 😁

 

 

On 05/01/2022 at 19:58, JOMT said:

No soul songs but here are a couple of (early) reggae ones (incl ska, rocksteady) for inspiration:

Derrick Morgan - No dice

Hortense & Alton - Don’t gamble with love (ballad)

King Cry Cry (Prince Far I) - Deck of cards

King CC - Rasta poker

Jimmy Cliff - One eyed jacks

Young Freddie (McGregor) - Drink and gamble

Nat Cole - Pack of cards

Lynn Taitt & the Jets - El Casino Royale

Shenley Duffus - A Bet cha don’t know

Basil Gabbidon - I bet you don’t know

Don Dummond - Lucky seven

The Techniques - Love is a gamble

King Edwards - Russian roulette

The Pioneers - Jackpot

The Maytals - Domino

Sound Dimension - Straight flush

Don Drummond - Ruyal flush

The Kilowatts - Slot machine

Candy - Ace of hearts

Owen Gray - Tumblin’ dice

And some interesting labels of course: Dice, Jackpot, Spade Records, … 

 

Fantastic list I wonder how you play 'Rasta Poker'?

With dread?

Long Shot Kick De Bucket by the Pioneers was one of my earliest introductions to Reggae and was about the demise of a racehorse mid-race at Caymanas Park.

Tommy Hunt "Loving On The Losing Side"

One more reggae: Five card stud by King Cannon.