Land of 1000 Dances by Wilson Pickett

By: Ron Powers

In 1966 Wilson Pickett released a rhythm and blues explosion called “Land of 1000 Dances. Although several versions of the song exist, Pickett’s version stands out and has become a true classic in popular music. The attitude in the melody and swing in the rhythm of this upbeat gem holds a special place in the hearts of countless people around the world. From its repetitive lead guitar groove to the larger-than-life boom of Wilson Pickett’s raspy voice, there’s something about this song that makes every cell of your body jump. So, let’s dig into one of the best and biggest R&B songs the world has ever known.

Things get started with Pickett counting off “One, two, three” just before a blast of sound from the horn section hits the speakers. This is repeated once and then a vibey bass guitar walks up and the whole band lays down a groove that only a dead man could ignore. Next Pickett delivers the first verse which consists of naming an array of dances like The Pony, Mash Potato, and The Alligator. With lyrics that aren’t exactly profound, the bulk of this song's value hinges on the soul that Pickett sings with and the feeling the band puts into the performance. The musicians on this recording tap into something that goes beyond technical skill and pop sense: Namely a raw honest emotion that can almost possess you if you permit it to. 

Coming out of the verse the music stops while drummer Roger Hawkins pumps out a groove composed of closed hi hat, kick drum, and snare. After a couple bars Pickett joins Hawkins with the chorus melody repeatedly singing “Na, na-na-na-na”. Here the raw sound of the drums and Pickett’s voice create a nice texture and contrast to the booming music of the verse section. As the chorus continues, Pickett sings the lines "Need somebody help me say it one time!". This is followed with a choir-like group vocal singing “Na, na-na-na-na” along with the iconic vocalist.

After the chorus the band tickles our eardrums with a red-hot instrumental dripping with the sort of mojo and soul that makes you want to shout hallelujah. The horn section leads the way with Charlie Chalmers’ Tenor sax performance standing out in particular. While Chalmers blows like a hurricane, we hear the rest of the horn section letting out rhythmic blasts that synergize with the drums and bass. Chips Moman and Jimmy Johnson further fill out the sound of the instrumental with steady rhythms and a sliding lead line that adds looseness and fun to the mix.

In January of 2006, Wilson Pickett ended his time here on earth and left behind some of the best rhythm and blues ever recorded. During his career he achieved a string of Billboard hits, five Grammy nominations, and was even inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. If you would like to listen to “Land of 1000 Dances” or any of Pickett’s many great songs, you can find his music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most places music is streamed or sold. If you would like to learn more about Wilson Pickett, you can find information at Wikipedia, or in the biography In the Midnight Hour by Tony Fletcher.