karluczi, Jan 24, 2013
Album: The Exciting Wilson Pickett
Release Date: 1966
Genre: R&B/Soul
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases three YouTube examples of the 1960s R&B song "Land Of 1000 Dances".
Information about that song is included in this post along with the original Chris Kenner lyrics fort hat song and the lyrics for Cannibal And The Headhunter's version and the lyrics for Wilson Pickett's version.
All content is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes
Thanks to Chris Kenner for composing this song. Thanks also to Chris Kenner, Cannibal and the Headhunters and Wilson Pickett and the Muscle Shoals band for their musical legacies. Thanks to , and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "LAND OF 1000 DANCES"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_a_Thousand_Dances
" "Land of a Thousand Dances" (or "Land of 1000 Dances") is a song written and first recorded by American rhythm and blues singer Chris Kenner in 1962. It later became a bigger hit in versions by Cannibal & the Headhunters and Wilson Pickett. A version by Thee Midniters reached #27 in Canada on March 22, 1965.[1]
The song references a number of dance styles/moves including the Twist, the Alligator, the Mashed Potato, the Watusi and the Pony.
Background
The original Chris Kenner recording, which peaked at No. 77
on the Billboard chart in 1963, mentions 16 dances: 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. Kenner's original recording included a brief, gospel-influenced,
a capella introduction with the words: "Children, go where I send you /
(Where will you send me?) / I'm gon' send you to that land / the land of a
thousand dances." This 18 seconds was left off the single release to
facilitate radio airplay, and the phrase "Land of 1000 Dances" never
appeared in any subsequent recording.
Cannibal and the Headhunters version
The song is famous for its "na na na na na" hook,
which Cannibal & the Headhunters added in their 1965 version, which reached
number 30 on the Billboard chart.[2] The hook gave the song further notoriety.
The "na na na na na" hook happened by accident when Frankie
"Cannibal" Garcia, lead singer of Cannibal and the Headhunters,
forgot the lyrics.[3] The melody to this section was also created
spontaneously, as it is not in Chris Kenner's original track. The "na na
na na na" hook was later borrowed in the 1994 song "Here Comes the
Hotstepper" by Jamaican artist Ini Kamoze.[4]
Wilson Pickett version
The song's best-known version was by Wilson Pickett, who recorded the song during his first set of sessions at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,[5] backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and the Memphis Horns. (He had previously recorded in Memphis.) His recording was released as a single and appeared on his album, The Exciting Wilson Pickett. The single became his third Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1 hit and his biggest ever pop hit, peaking at No. 6.[6] In 1988 a re-recorded version by Pickett was featured in a concert during the movie The Great Outdoors, while the original recording is featured at the end credits of the movie. In 1989, the earlier Pickett version was ranked number 152 on Dave Marsh's list of The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.[7] "...
(written and sung by Chris Kenner)
[Intro]
Children, go where I send you
(Where will you send me?)
I'm gonna send you to that land
The land of a thousand dances
[Verse 1]
Got to know how to Pony
Like "Bony Maronie"
You got to know how to Twist
Goes like this
[Verse 2]
Mashed Potato
Do the Alligator
Twist, twister
Like your sister
[Verse 3]
Then you get your Yo-Yo
Say, hey, let's go-go
Get out on your knees
Do the Sweet Peas
[Verse 4]
Roll over on your back
Say, "I Like It Like That"
Do the Watusi
Do the Watusi
[Verse 5]
Then you do the Fly
With the Hand Jive
Then you do the Slop
The Chicken and the Bop
[Verse 6]
Then you do the Fish
Slow, slow Twist
Then you do the Flow
Got to move solo
Then you do the Tango
Takes two to Tango
[Bridge]
Popeye, children
Popeye, children
Popeye, children
[Verse 7]
Come on, children
I wanna show you
This little place
'Cross the track
[Verse 8]
The name of this place
"I Like It Like That"
The name of the band
The Twistolettes
[Outro]
Come on, children
I wanna show you
I wanna show you
I wanna show you
Come on, children
-snip-
Here's information about "I Like It Like That" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Like_It_Like_That_(Chris_Kenner_song)
" "I Like It Like That" is a song by Chris Kenner
and Allen Toussaint,[1] first recorded by Kenner, whose version reached No. 2
on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961.[2] It was kept from the No.1 spot by
"Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis.[3] This version also went to
No. 2 on the R&B singles chart, also behind "Tossin' and
Turnin'".[4] The narrator of the song invites the listener to come with
him to a happening spot named "I Like It Like That". The lyrics in
Kenner's version are mostly spoken in the verses, as well as saying the line:
"The name of the place is". "....
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Cannibal & The Headhunters Land Of 1000 Dances
rene rios rodriguez, Oct 3, 2016 [1965]
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(sung by Cannibal And The Headhunters)
I said na na na na ...
You gotta know how to pony
Like Bonie Maronie
You gotta know how to twist
I said, it just like this
I said mashed potato
Do the alligator
I said, Billy, get your yo-yo
Come on and let's go
I said clap your hands (come on)
I said clap your hands (come on)
And then move your feet (come on)
Get into that beat (come on)
I said na na na na...
Everybody, come on now
Na na na na...
Yes, a one more time
Na na na na...
You gotta know how to jerk (oh, yeah)
Come on, baby, work
You gotta know how to jangle
Make you do the tango
I said, do the Watusi
Come on and do the Watusi
Ooh, ooh, ooh...
Ooo ooh ooh
I said, goodbye Lucy
I said, goodbye child
I said, wa-watusi...
I said na na na na ...
You gotta know how to pony
Like Bonie Maronie
You gotta know how to twist
I said, it just like this
I said mashed potato
Do the alligator
I said, Billy, get your yo-yo
Come on and let's go
I said clap your hands (come on)
I said clap your hands (come on)
And then move your feet (come on)
Get into that beat (come on)
I said na na na na...
Everybody, come on now
Na na na na...
Yes, a one more time
Na na na na...
You gotta know how to jerk (oh, yeah)
Come on, baby, work
You gotta know how to jangle
Make you do the tango
I said, do the Watusi
Coeme on and do the Watusi
Ooh, ooh, ooh...
Ooo ooh ooh
I said, goodbye Lucy
I said, goodbye child
I said, wa-watusi...
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karluczi, Jan 24, 2013
Album: The Exciting Wilson Pickett
Release Date: 1966
LYRICS - LAND OF 1000 DANCES
(as sung by Wilson Pickett)
Children, go where I send you
(Where will you send me?)
I'm gon' send you to that land
The land of a thousand dances
1-2-3
1-2-3
Ow! Uh! Alright! Uh!
Got to know how to pony
Like Bony Maronie
Mash potato, do the alligator
Put your hand on your hips, yeah
Let your backbone slip
Do the Watusi
Like my little Lucy
Hey! Uh!
Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na na-na-na na-na-na
I need somebody to help me say it one time
Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na na-na-na na-na-na
Wow!
[Instrumental]
Wow! Uh!
You know I feel alright!
Huh!
I feel pretty good y'all
Uh! Huh!
Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na na-na-na na-na-na
Come on y'all, let's say it one more time
Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na na-na-na na-na-na
Oow!
Playing in the alley
With long tall Sally
Twistin' with Lucy
Doin' the Watusi
Roll over on your back
I like it like that
Do that Jerk, uh
Watch me work y'all
Ow! Do it!
Wow! Do it!
Just watch me do it
Aah, help me
Aah, help me
Aah, help me
Aah, help me
About
Written in 1962 by Chris Kenner, first charted Cannibal and
the Headhunters in 1965, and became a huge hit in 1966 when Wilson Pickett
released it.
Online source - https://genius.com/Wilson-pickett-land-of-1000-dances-lyrics
-snip-
Here's some more information about Wilson Pickett's "Land Of 1000 Dances" from the discussion thread for the Wilson Pickett video that is embedded in this pancocojams post.
Melody Sanger, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mz_EXHKGHs
"TODAY IN MUSIC HISTORY
September 17, 1966 “Land Of 1,000 Dances” by Wilson Pickett hits #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart for 1 week, also peaking at #6 on the Hot 100 on September 10, 1966. Written by Chris Kenner, it is the third chart topping single for the R&B vocal icon from Prattville, AL. After less than a year of working successfully with musicians at Stax Studios in Memphis, Wilson Pickett has a major falling out with the studios house band and label co-founder Jim Stewart. As a result, Stewart tells Atlantic Records executive and producer Jerry Wexler that he is banning all non-Stax recording artists from working at the labels Memphis studio. Wexler instead sends Pickett to work with producer Rick Hall at his FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. While deciding on material to record, one of the songs chosen is “Land Of 1,000 Dances”.
Written and originally recorded by New Orleans born singer Chris Kenner (“I Like It Like That”) in 1963 (#77 Pop), the song becomes a party anthem and is covered numerous times including versions by Thee Midniters (#67 Pop) and Cannibal & The Headhunters (#30 Pop), the latter being the most successful version to date. Wilson Pickett records his version of the song on May 11, 1966 with members of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section including Roger Hawkins (drums), Spooner Oldham (keyboards), Junior Lowe (bass), Jimmy Johnson (guitar) along with Memphis based musicians Chips Moman (guitar), and horn players Charlie Chalmers, Andrew Love (tenor sax), Wayne Jackson (trumpet) and Floyd Newman (baritone sax).
As soon as recording is completed, all agree that
they have a hit on their hands. Released in late July of 1966, Pickett’s high
octane version of “Land Of 1,000 Dances” quickly rises up the R&B and pop
singles charts simultaneously, becoming one of Wilson Pickett’s signature
songs, and a highlight of his frenetic live performances."
-snip-
This comment was reformatted to enhance its readability.
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Here's information about some of the lyrics for versions of the song "Land Of 1000 dances"
ReplyDelete1. "Children go where I send thee" (in Chris Kenner and Wilson Pickett versions) - from an African American Spiritual with that title
2. "Bonie Maroni" = character in the 1957 Rock And Roll/R&B song with that title by Larry Williams
3. "I like it like that" (in Chris Kenner's version"
"I Like It Like That" is a song by Chris Kenner and Allen Toussaint,[1] first recorded by Kenner, whose version reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961.[2] It was kept from the No.1 spot by "Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis.[3] This version also went to No. 2 on the R&B singles chart, also behind "Tossin' and Turnin'".[4] The narrator of the song invites the listener to come with him to a happening spot named "I Like It Like That". The lyrics in Kenner's version are mostly spoken in the verses, as well as saying the line: "The name of the place is"..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Like_It_Like_That_(Chris_Kenner_song)
4. Long Tall Sally (in Wilson Pickett's version)
"Long Tall Sally" is the title of a 1956 song by Little Richard.