Born in the farming community of Kenner, Louisiana, upriver from New Orleans, Kenner sang gospel music with his church choir, and moved to New Orleans in his teens. In 1955 he made his first recordings, for a small label, Baton Records, without success; and in 1957 recorded his "Sick and Tired" for the Imperial Records label; Fats Domino covered it the next year and the song became a hit. "Rocket to the Moon" and "Life Is Just a Struggle," both cut for the Ron Records label, were other notable songs from this period.
Moving to another New Orleans label, Instant, he began to work with pianist and arranger Allen Toussaint. In 1961, this collaboration produced "I Like It Like That", his first and biggest hit, peaking at #2 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (covered in 1965 by The Dave Clark Five) and "Something You Got" (covered by Alvin Robinson, the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Chuck Jackson, Earl Grant, Maxine Brown, Bobby Womack, Fairport Convention and Bruce Springsteen). "I Like It Like That" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. In 1962 he produced his most enduring song, "Land of a Thousand Dances," which was recorded by Cannibal & the Headhunters, Thee Midniters, Wilson Pickett, The Action and Patti Smith.
Kenner continued to record for Instant and for various other small local labels, including many of his lesser-known songs from the 1960s, such as "My Wife," "Packing Up" and "They Took My Money". He released an album on Atlantic Records in 1966; the Collectors' Choice label reissued the LP, Land of a Thousand Dances, on CD in 2007.
In 1968 Kenner was convicted of statutory rape of a minor, and spent three years in Louisiana's Angola prison.
Kenner died from a heart attack in 1976, at the age of 46.
Southern Louisiana based R&B artist who started making records in 1955 for Baton Records, in 1957 he recorded "Sick and Tired" with Dave Bartholomew for the Imperial Records label; which became a hit only after Fats Domino covered it. His biggest 60's records were 1961's "I Like It Like That" recorded for Joe Banashak's Instant label. The song "I Like It Like That" co-written with pianist Allen Toussaint reached number 2 in the US pop charts and Kenner later received a Grammy nomination for the song. "I Like It Like That" was also a 1965 hit for The Dave Clark Five , 70's duo Loggins & Messina and there was a popular spanish Conjunto version by Fania artist Pete Rodriguez. Kenner wrote & recorded "Something You Got" which was a big 1965 hit for Chuck Jackson and Maxine Brown, while Kenner's 1962's "Land of 1000 Dances" hit #77 on the US charts, it was a bigger hit for Wilson Pickett and Cannibal & the Headhunters. "Land of a 1000 Dances", a perennial party fave was also later redone by The J. Geils Band,Roy Orbison, The Trashmen,The Ventures,Sam & Dave,The Residents, Johnny Rivers, Tina Turner, Tom Jones, Rufus Thomas, the Walker Brothers amongst many others. Firmly rooted in the regional New Orleans R&B scene, Kenner collaborated with contemporaries like Eddie Bocage aka Eddie Bo on songs like ‘All Night Rambler’. Later on he also laid down funkier sides like 1967’s ‘Fumigate Funky Broadway’. Kenner, a heavy drinker, was found guilty of statutory rape of a minor in 1968, and spent three years in Louisiana's Angola prison, never regaining chart success before his death in 1976.
He may also be the King of the Gypsies. I dunno. Just something I heard once.
I Like It Like That
Chris Kenner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Whoa, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
I said the name of the place is I like it like that
Come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Ah, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Whoa, I wanna show you (come on let me show you where it's at)
They got a little place a-down the track
The name of the place is I like it like that
You take Sally and I'll take Sue
And we're gonna rock away all of our blues
Come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Oh, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Ah, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
The name of the place is I like it like that
Come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Oh, I wanna show you (come on let me show you where it's at)
I said the name of the place is I like it like that
The last time I was down they lost my shoes
They had some cat shoutin' the blues
The people was yellin' out for more
And all they kept sayin' was-a go man, go
Come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Ah, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Oh, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
I said the name of the place is I like it like that
Come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Ah, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Oh, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
The name of the place is I like it like that
Come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
The lyrics of Chris Kenner's "I Like It Like That" are a call to join in on the party at a lively and energetic place. The lyrics invite listeners to follow the singer to a place where he likes it like that, where people dance away their blues and sing along to the music. The repetitive nature of the chorus emphasizes the singer's enthusiasm for the place and his eagerness to share it with others. The second verse suggests that the place is a club and encourages listeners to bring their friends and dance partners.
The third verse describes a chaotic scene at the club, where people are shouting and dancing, and the singer's shoes have been lost. Despite this, the audience is still craving more, urging the performers to keep playing and calling for the music to continue. Overall, the song celebrates the vibrant and lively atmosphere of a place where people come together to dance and forget their troubles, and the singer invites the listener to join in and experience the energy for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
Let me guide you to the exciting location I am talking about
Ah, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
I am urging you to join me in this exciting place
Whoa, come on (come on let me show you where it's at)
I am expressing my enthusiasm and eagerness to share this experience with you
I said the name of the place is I like it like that
The name of this exciting place is 'I like it like that'
They got a little place a-down the track
There is a small but fun place nearby
The name of the place is I like it like that
The name of this enjoyable location is 'I like it like that'
You take Sally and I'll take Sue
Let's bring some friends along and enjoy ourselves
And we're gonna rock away all of our blues
We will dance and have so much fun that we will forget our troubles
The last time I was down they lost my shoes
During my last visit, I lost my shoes at this lively location
They had some cat shoutin' the blues
There was a singer performing some blues music there
The people was yellin' out for more
The crowd was requesting more lively and upbeat songs
And all they kept sayin' was-a go man, go
The audience kept encouraging the performer to continue with energetic enthusiasm
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Allen Toussaint, Christopher Kenner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
木倉谷哲也
Lyrics:
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
The name of the place is (I Like It Like That)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
The name of the place is (I Like It Like That)
They got a little place across the track
The name of the place is I Like It Like That
Now, you take Sally, and I’ll take Sue
And we’re gonna rock away all of our blues
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
The name of the place is (I Like It Like That)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
I wanna show you (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
The name of the place is (I Like It Like That)
Now, the last time I was down there I lost my shoes
They had some cat shoutin’ the blues
The people was yellin’ out for more
And all they were sayin’ was “Go, man, go”
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
The name of the place is (I Like It Like That)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
The name of the place is (I Like It Like That)
Come on (Come on, let me show you where it’s at)
Come on (Come on)……
Donald Hartsfield
I have always loved this song! Sounds as great as ever!!
Jeffrey Slotnikoff
I have the original record also; it's a shame that the flip side, "I Like It Like That, Part 2", is never played anywhere. It's pretty good!
Richard Dixon
The Jonaco - out of honesty, you mentioned his alcoholism first - when out of respect, you could have first mentioned what an extraordinarily infectious recording this is, from an arrangement, production and vocal standpoint. Whatever his shortcomings, Chris left us with a truly toe-tapping #2! God bless him.
Johann Sebastian Bach
True, true, true. But Dickens COULD have written honestly, "It was a pretty good time, but not so great." Virgil COULD have written honestly, "Let me tell you a story." You strain at a gnat, sir.
Dejael Long
Great R&B Classic, covered by the Dave Clark Five in 1964.
Jim Hilliker
Another good one, love it. Thanks.
TheJonaco
Chris, born 25 Dec. 1929 in the NOLA suburb of Kenner (get it?), was a lifelong alcoholic who could barely play the piano and often passed out on stage. That didn't stop him from writing a bunch of New Orleans standards: "Sick And Tired", "Something You Got" and "Land Of 1,000 Dances" as well as this enduring song. Crescent City legends loved him, though, and always gave him support in search of another hit. The brilliant Allen Toussaint produced and played piano on this, and so many other, NOLA classics. The DC5 always had a great ear for R&B covers, too. RIP Chris- the unsung hero of the New Orleans sound. Fun fact: Instant Records was a division of Minit, home to K-Doe, Benny Spellman, Jessie Hill and other NOLA superstars. It was originally to be named Valiant, but there already was a successful Valiant label in Hollywood (The Cascades, Shelby Flint and, later, The Association). Minit's Joe Banashak had to change the name "instantly"- he didn't have time to take that "V"-shaped saxophone off the label!
James Marshall
When the Dave Clark Five's record came out in 1964 Allen Toussaint had added his name to the composer credit.
Darryl C Preston
Next to MOTHER IN LAW, I guess this would be the most successful New Orleans R&R hit.
TheJonaco
Love that New Orleans sound! Same label (almost) and producer (the late, very great Allen Toussaint) as "Mother-In-Law". More above!