Land of a Thousand Dances

Infobox Single
Name = Land of a Thousand Dances


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Wilson Pickett
Album = The Exciting Wilson Pickett
B-side =
Released = Start date|1966
Format = Vinyl
Recorded =
Genre = Rhythm and blues
Length = 2:28
Label = Atlantic
Writer = Chris Kenner
Producer =
Audio sample =
Certification =
Last single = "Ninety Nine and a Half (Won't Do)"
(1966)
This single = "Land
of a Thousand Dances"
(1966)
Next single = "Mustang Sally"
(1966)
Misc =

"Land of a Thousand Dances" is a song written and first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962. Famous for its "na na na na na" hook, which was added by Cannibal & the Headhunters in 1965, the song's best-known version was Wilson Pickett 1966 recording on "The Exciting Wilson Pickett", which became his third R&B #1 and his biggest ever pop hit, peaking at #6. In 1989, this version was ranked number 152 on Dave Marsh's list of "The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made". [cite web |url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/S1434.htm |title=Land of 1000 Dances |accessdate=2008-08-06]

In the original recording by Chris Kenner sixteen dances are specifically mentioned: the Pony, the Chicken, the Mashed Potato, the Alligator, the Watusi, the Twist, the Fly, the Jerk, the Tango, the Yo-Yo, the Sweet Pea, the Hand jive, the Slop, the Bop, the Fish and the Popeye.

Covers

* Thee Midniters (1965)
* Bill Haley & His Comets (1966)
* Patti Smith – "Horses" (1975)
* Ted Nugent – "Intensities in 10 Cities" (1981)
* The J. Geils Band (1983)
* World Wrestling Federation – "The Wrestling Album" (1985)
* Tina Turner – "Tina Live in Europe" (1988)
* Vinnie Jones – "Respect" (2002)
* Barón Rojo – "Desde Barón a Bilbao" (2007)
* The Action and George Martin
* Broken Social Scene
* Claus Ogerman
* Guy
* The Mummies
* The Residents
* The Rezillos
* Little Richard
* Sam & Dave
* The Walker Brothers
* Chants R&B - Stage Door Witchdoctors

In the media

* Wilson Pickett's version was played in movies "The Great Outdoors", "Forrest Gump" and as well as in a memorable audition sequence in "The Full Monty".
* Philippines variety show "Eat Bulaga!" had a song called "Kagat Labi", and it used the tune of this song.
* Guy's version appears in the 1992 movie "" and its soundtrack.
* The continuing "na" sequence was incorporated into the 1995 dancehall song "Here Comes the Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze.
* Chris Kenner's version was played in the 2003 movie "Radio".
* Broken Social Scene's version of the song was played in the 2007 movie "The Tracey Fragments".

Charts

Wilson Pickett

Notes

External links

* [http://www.mtv.com/lyrics/kenner_chris/land_of_a_1_000_dances/19673138/lyrics.jhtml Lyrics]
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