“Land of 1000 Dances” or “Land Of A Thousand Dances” was written by Chris Kenner in 1962. The first hit version was by Cannibal & the Headhunters in ’65. The single reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The first time I heard the song was listening to KPUG-Bellingham in the mid-sixties. It was the latest hit by Wilson Pickett.
The late Wilson Pickett recorded his cover of “1000 Dances” at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. “Wicked Pickett” was backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and the Memphis Horns. That single, released in 1966, became Pickett’s biggest hit. It went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues (soul) chart, and it peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It rose to #22 on charts in the UK. In 1989, prolific rock ‘n’ roll music critic Dave Marsh put Pickett’s version of “Land Of 1000 Dances” at #152 on his list of The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.
This video captured Pickett during a high octane live concert before his obviously awe struck and captivated fans. “Wicked” sure knew how to belt out a soul song. He put the “S” in screamer. Pickett will go down in the history books for his many memorable radio hits: “The Midnight Hour,” “Mustang Sally,” “634-5789,” “Funky Broadway,” “I Found a Love,” his take on “Hey Jude,” and several others.
The video is at ad free Vimeo, so click on the start button 2x – first to go to Vimeo and after you’re there to start your video.
Jason Remington • September 30, 2020
Lonesome 7-7203 good song. Hawshaw Hawkins. I think it has been covered by a couple other artists. An oldie but goodie, for sure!
Dick Ellingson • September 30, 2020
To quote Buck Ritchey, Steve, almost nearly but not quite hardly,
“PEnnsylvania 6-5000” was one of the biggest hits and an immortal song of the big band era by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra, recorded on Bluebird in 1940. It was the phone number of the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City, where Miller’s band had a regular gig. Its phone number is still 736-5000.
Those three others are local phone numbers familiar to many who visit this site. I threw them in just for drill and to agitate the grey cells.
I remembered another song though . . . LOnesome 7-7203.
Steven Smith • September 30, 2020
He had the energy and the moves.
Steven Smith • September 30, 2020
Are those all songs Dick?
Dick Ellingson • September 30, 2020
PEnnsylvania 6-5000, ELliott 2480, HOlly 5100, MAin 2312
Steven Smith • September 30, 2020
Ted…that is true. Something about phone numbers.
ted • September 30, 2020
Wilson Pickett’s “634-5789” and The Marvelettes’s “Beechwood 4-5789” are both great records!
Jason Remington • September 30, 2020
634-5789 was the number she gave Wilson Pickett, but her real number was Beachwood 4-5789. It has happened to many of us guys. I tried to call a girl at 555-1212, and then I got wise.
Steven Smith • September 30, 2020
Better to gain wisdom afterwards than not at all I think.
Dick Ellingson • September 30, 2020
I used to call this chick at COlumbia 8900 all the time but she’d barely gave me the time of day. She was a real nit-picker too – every time Buffalo Bob hollered, “Say kids, what time is it?”, she’d say in her sultry manner, “It’s Howdy Doody time and ten seconds, Bozo! You’re late again!”
Then there’d be a bunch of beeps from a squeeze horn, a coded message – “The name’s Clarabelle. Bozo’s over on Channel 9!”
Jay Hamilton • September 30, 2020
Great concert footage, Steve. I always liked Wilson’s choice of material. I remember Chris Kenner’s 1963 original version of a “1000 Dances” as a (the) hit … even though it only reached #77 nationally, but they played the heck out of it on radio where I was at the time. It was the follow up to Kenner’s 1961 (#2 national hit) “I Like It Like That”.
For those who are interested here’s a link to the songwriters version:
https://youtu.be/QDxfCywWgaE
I find it interesting that this song made the national charts three different times, by three different recording artists over a period of 3 years.
Steven Smith • September 30, 2020
Jay….I know the name Chris Kenner. But I do not recall his vesion. I will listen. I best remember Cannibal and Wilson. But I did not start listening to radio till 1966.
Steven Smith • September 30, 2020
Jay…I checked it out. Pretty sure I never heard that version. But you were in radio several years before me, so I am not surprised you know it. It is missing the nah, nah, nah isn’t it?
Steven Smith • September 29, 2020
Jack…I think I liked Wilson better than James. But I liked them both along with Eddie Floyd and JJ Jackson and Otis and Ben E. King.
Jack D.Bell • September 29, 2020
Wilson Pickett!…His album cover, with him wearing that purple “poofy ” shirt, was so definitive of his powerful, even sexy visage…and I preferred him over James Brown….My hero, Jimi Hendrix, can be seen in an old photo from 1966, backing Wilson onstage, at a semi-private “record debut” hosted by Atlantic Records…I think Percy Sledge was being promoted at that gathering…Wow…soul music was so hot during this time frame…even the Beatles listened to it…and I can remember, that on one of their many recordings, George makes the remark, “Pick it, Wilson!” before taking a solo…Chris Kenner wrote this?…I know he himself had a couple of hits around that time…Thanks for this interesting post!