Q:
I have a copy of a QoD dating all the way back to May 23, 2007 in which you listed the Ultimate Gambling Song list of music related to Las Vegas and/or gambling. Believe me when I tell you that many of those tunes are on my iPod for my friends and I to enjoy on our frequent excursions to Las Vegas. I was thinking that after all of these years you might have some great additions that you have come across. I know that I have, and I always add them to my Las Vegas playlist for the drive up. It was just a thought that you might like to update your list after so many years. Thanks for your time.
A:
This was indeed a popular Question of the Day, and not only with readers. Back in 2007 we ran a "Best of" feature for a few days where Deke Castleman and I chose our favorites from among the answers each other had written over the years, and Deke picked that "Gambling Songs" QoD as among his choices (and made me blush with his kind words!) -- it was that re-run that you're referring to, and if you check it in the QoD Archives you'll see that there have in fact been several updates since then, since every time we run this answer, readers write in with suggestions of other candidates we weren't aware of.
The last time we added to the never-ending list was on May 14, 2009, however, so there have definitely been new songs since then that belong in the compendium, plus doubtless there are other old gems we're not familiar with, so we continue to extend our invitation to everyone out there in QoDland to send us suggestions of tunes we're missing (we appealed to the person who submitted this QoD to send us their ideas, but we haven't heard back. Whoever you are, we hope you catch this and send us those additions -- we'll be sure to add them.)
In the meantime, here are all of those we knew about at the time of the last update, plus some new ones we've since come across. We know there are lots more, so please keep 'em coming!
- Viva Las Vegas - Elvis (or take your pick from ZZ Top, Bruce Springsteen, Dread Zeppelin, Nina Hagen, Dead Kennedys, Engelbert Humperdinck, et al)
- The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
- Luck Be a Lady - Frank Sinatra
- Lucky Too (Christmas in Las Vegas) - Bob Neuwirth
- Las Vegas Virgin – Sonia Dada
- Gambler – Madonna
- Ace of Spades – Motorhead
- Son of a Rotten Gambler – Emmylou Harris
- I Let a Gambler Lead Me Astray – Odetta
- Blackjack – Ray Charles
- Shooting High Dice - Mississippi Sheiks
- Draw of the Cards - Kim Carnes
- Poker – Electric Light Orchestra
- Riverboat Gambler – Carly Simon
- Shape of My Heart - Sting
- House of the Rising Sun – The Animals (or Bob Dylan)
- The Angel and the Gambler – Iron Maiden
- Tumbling Dice - Rolling Stones
- The Card Cheat – The Clash
- The Winner Takes It All – ABBA
- The Gambler – Leonard Cohen
- A Good Run of Bad Luck - Clint Black
- Easy Money – Billy Joel
- No Luck in Gambling - Yellowman
- No Cheap Thrill – Suzanne Vega
- Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song) - Hall & Oates
- Desperado – The Eagles
- Life is Just a Card Game - Big Joe Turner
- Karma Hotel - Spooks
- Roulette - Bon Jovi
- Ramblin' Gamblin' Man - Bob Seger
- Ooh Las Vegas - Emmylou Harris
- Gamblin' Man - Bonnie Raitt
- The Jack – AC/DC
- Dealer - Traffic
- It's Okay - Eminem (featuring Eye-Kyu)
- Deal 'em Again - Christopher Cross
- Go Down Gambling - Blood, Sweat and Tears
- Whisky, Women And Loaded Dice – Joe Liggins
- Midnight Train - The Monkees
- Gambling Woman – Memphis Minnie
- Lay Your Money Down – Bread
- The Gambling Song - Cliff Richard
- Gambling Polka Dot Blues - Hank Snow
- The Loser – Grateful Dead
- Turn Of A Friendly Card - Alan Parsons
- Norman The Gambler (rides around in a Rambler) - Max Romeo and the Upsetters
- Leavin' Las Vegas – Sheryl Crow
- Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine
- Queen of Las Vegas - B52s
- Roll the Bones - Rush
- Wind Him Up - Saga
- People Get Really Drunk in Las Vegas - Size 14
- Vegas Two Times - Stereophonics
- Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
- Vegas Remains - Reclinerland
- Vegas Baby - The Weepies
- Vegas - Clowns for Progress
- Vegas - The Regulars
- Vegas - Dan Mackenzie
- Vegas Bound - Evan Olson
- Vegas - PenthouseJ
- Vegas Dream - Rick McGuire
- Vegas Drag (Instrumental) - Count Basie
- Vegas - Suitcase Pimps
- Vegas Polka - Frankie Yankovic
- Vegas - Bobby Bare
- Jesus in Vegas - Chumbawamba
- Pretty Vegas - INXS
- Goin' to Vegas - Jimmy Ray
- Do It Again - Steely Dan
- Casino Queen - Wilco
- Roll of the Dice - Bruce Springsteen
- It's Midnight and I'm Not Famous Yet - Jimmy Buffett (or Steve Goodman)
- Sin City - Gram Parsons (or Emmylou Harris)
- Here's to the Losers - Frank Sinatra
- I Love Vegas - Dean Martin
- With Plenty of Money and You - Count Basie (or Tony Bennett)
- Silver and Gold - U2
- Street of Dreams - Sinatra
- Mr Siegal - Tom Waits
- Five Card Stud - Ace Frehley
- Poker Face - Lady Gaga
- Waking Up in Vegas - Katy Perry
- Vegas Nights - Hootie & the Blowfish
- Las Vegas With the Lights Out - Geggy Tah
- Vegas - Nico
- Conventioneers - Barenaked Ladies
- Your Love Is Like Las Vegas - The Thrills
- Vegas - Clubstrophobia
- Las Vegas Dealer - Gomez
- Here's To Las Vegas - Barry Manilow
- Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
- Sin City - Flying Burrito Brothers
- L.V. (Las Vegas) - Clint Holmes
- Big in Vegas - Buck Owens
- Reno, Nevada - Richard Farina
- Sin City - AC/DC
- Jack of Diamonds - Blind Lemon Jefferson
- I Got Mine - Jim Kweskin, Dan Hicks, et al.
- Sunday Street - Dave Van Ronk
- Playing Policy - Blind Blake
- Gambler's Yodel - Delmore Bros./Doc Watson
- Hey Louie Prima - Brian Setzer Orchestra
- I Take My Chances - Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Lonesome Loser - Little River Band
- Christmas In Vegas - Dale Watson
- 40 Miles To Vegas - Southern Culture On the Skids
- Casino Road - Kevin Gordon
- I Saw It Coming - Reckless Kelly
- When You're Hot, You're Hot - Jerry Reed
- Show Biz Kids - Steely Dan
- Me and my Uncle - Grateful Dead
- New Bad Habit - Larry Garner
- Twenty-One - Small Stars
- Let's Go to Vegas - Faith Hill
- Ooh Las Vegas - Gram Parsons
- Las Vegas - Martin Stenmarck
- Jesus Died in Las Vegas - Spiritual Front
- Two of Hearts - Stacey Q
- Vegas - Sara Bareilles
- Vegas Girl - Conor Maynard
- Vegas - Rediscover
- Straight to the Top (Vegas) - Tom Waits
- Casino Boogie - Rolling Stones
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