Sweet Music Man: Dolly Parton, Chris Stapleton, Oak Ridge Boys, and More Pay Tribute to Kenny Rogers on "All In for the Gambler"

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On Wednesday, October 25, 2017, Kenny Rogers took the stage at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena for what was billed as a farewell concert celebration. Rogers' final tour, The Gambler's Last Deal, would encompass further performances (including a run of Christmas shows in December 2017) before a halt was announced, on doctor's orders, of a planned 2018 leg. But the all-star Nashville show was a symbolic last hurrah for the superstar who died in March 2020 at the age of 81. The tribute concert, featuring a host of Rogers' friends and those influenced by him, was later aired on television. Now, it's coming to a CD/DVD package this Friday, May 20, from the Blackbird label.

All In for the Gambler presents eighteen highlights from the event, with slightly different track listings for CD and DVD. Both presentations feature the climactic performance of Rogers with Dolly Parton in which they duetted on "You Can't Make Old Friends" and "Islands in the Stream" as well as Dolly serenading him with an appropriate "I Will Always Love You." Another old friend of Rogers', Lionel Richie, dropped in to revisit "Lady," Rogers' 1980 chart-topper (Pop, AC, and Country) which Richie wrote and produced. Wynonna Judd offered "You Turn the Light On" and Rogers' longtime singing partner Linda Davis performed "Twenty Years Ago" with her daughter Hillary Scott.

Younger country artists appeared to pay tribute to Rogers, including Chris Stapleton with "The Gambler," Lady A with "She Believes in Me," Justin Moore with "Lucille," Jamey Johnson with The First Edition's "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In"), and Little Big Town with "Through the Years." Rocker Aaron Lewis of Staind celebrated Rogers with "Coward of the County," and stage and screen star Idina Menzel delivered "We've Got Tonight" with Lady A's Charles Kelley. Crystal Gayle, Billy Dean, Lee Greenwood, The Gatlin Brothers, T.G. Sheppard, Kim Forester, T. Graham Brown, and Travis Tritt all joined forces for a powerful "Blaze of Glory."

The DVD only features The Oak Ridge Boys' "Love or Something Like It" as well as Billy Currington's "Morning Desire," while the CD is the only place to hear Jamey Johnson cover "Sweet Music Man." Other artists appeared at the concert but aren't represented at all on this presentation including Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, The Flaming Lips, Don Henley, and the late Naomi Judd.

Country Music Hall of Famer Rogers' legacy is assured; he notched more than 120 singles on the U.S.' various charts and sold more than 100 million records worldwide, topping the Country and Pop charts in the U.S. for over 200 weeks. All In for the Gambler is an eclectic tribute to his artistry, capped off with his heartfelt reunion with Dolly Parton. Look for it this Friday; you'll find the track listing and pre-order links below.

Kenny Rogers, All In for the Gambler (Blackbird) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

"The Gambler" - Chris Stapleton
"Tulsa Turnaround" - Elle King
"Love Or Something Like It" - The Oak Ridge Boys (DVD only)
"She Believes in Me" - Lady A
"Blaze Of Glory" - Billy Dean, Crystal Gayle, Kim Forester, Lee Greenwood, Rudy Gatlin, Steve Gatlin, T.G. Sheppard, T. Graham Brown, Travis Tritt
"You Turn the Light On" - Wynonna
"Coward Of the County" - Aaron Lewis
"Sweet Music Man" - Jamey Johnson (CD only)
"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" - Jamey Johnson
"Twenty Years Ago" - Hillary Scott & Linda Davis
"Morning Desire" - Billy Currington (DVD only)
"Lucille" - Justin Moore
"Through The Years" - Little Big Town
"We've Got Tonight" - Idina Menzel & Charles Kelley
"Lady" - Lionel Richie
"You Can't Make Old Friends" - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
"I Will Always Love You" - Dolly Parton
"Islands In The Stream" - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

Comments

k says

May 19, 2022 at 12:27 pm

"Other artists appeared at the concert but aren't represented at all on this presentation including Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, The Flaming Lips, Don Henley, and the late Naomi Judd"

HOW ARE THESE GREATS LEFT OFF??? H U G E ERROR!!!!

- Ken says
  
  May 19, 2022 at 1:24 pm
  
  You are assuming that the producer/compiler for the Blackbird label CHOSE to not include those artists. It's very likely that due to contractual reasons Blackbird might not have been able to use those performances.
  
  Sometimes if an artist does not feel that their "live" performance was not up to certain standards they do not want it to be released commercially.
  
  Or it could be a combination of other reasons.
  
  But you cannot assume that some of the acts from that special concert are not on the CD or DVD due to a lack of desire by the record label to include them or that it was because of an ERROR on their part! Contractual agreements for performers can be very complicated and it's surprising that they were able to include as many acts as they did.