Land of a Thousand Dances

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"Land of a Thousand Dances" is a soul song 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 R&B chart-topping 1966 recording on The Exciting Wilson Pickett. Wilson Pickett's version was the biggest hit. It was US #6 and #22 UK in 1966.

It has been covered by various other bands and artists including the Thee Midniters (1965), J. Geils Band (1983), Guy, Sam & Dave, Rezillos, The Action (with George Martin), The Residents, The Mummies, Patti Smith (on her seminal album Horses), Ted Nugent, Claus Ogerman, Japanese Shibuya-kei artist Comoesta Yaegashi and Bill Haley & His Comets, who scored a 1966 hit with the song in Latin America. Vinnie Jones also covered the song on his 2002 album Respect. Spanish band Baron Rojo covered the song in their Desde Baron a Bilbao live album.

Despite the title, in the original recording by Chris Kenner only 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.

In 1986, The Wrestlers took it to #38 on the Canadian chart. It appears on The Wrestling Album.

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