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.
Land Of 1000 Dances
Chris Kenner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like Bony Maronie
Do you know how to twist
Goes like this
Mashed potatoes
Slow alligator
Twist the twister
Like little sister
The endless gogo
Do you do the fish
Goes like this
Do you do the tango
Takes two to tango
Get down on your knees
Do the sweet peas
Roll over on your back
Say I like it like that
Do the watussi
Do the watussi
Can you do the fly
With a hand jive
Do you do the slot
Shakin' in a bop
Then you go home
So you won't be all alone
So bye bye children
Bye bye children
Come on with me children
Lets go children
I wanna show you
This little place
Across the track
The name of the place
I'll like it like that
The name of the band
The fat men
Lets go children
The fat men
Lets go children
Chris Kenner's "Land of 1000 Dances" begins as a dance instruction but goes on to describe a lively party scene where people are dancing to different styles of music. The song references several popular dance moves of its era, such as the twist, mashed potatoes, and the fly, and also includes some lesser-known dances, like the watussi and the slot. The lyrics also mention specific songs for some of the dances - for example, "Roll over on your back/Say I like it like that" refers to Thee Midnighters' hit "Land of a Thousand Dances," which inspired Kenner's own song.
The chorus of "Land of 1000 Dances" invites the listener to come along to a place where they can dance to the sounds of The Fat Man, the band performing at the party. This kind of musical invitation was a common theme in 60s pop music, where the party scene was an idealized setting for free expression and socializing. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy hook make it a dance floor classic, and it has been covered by numerous artists, including Wilson Pickett, who had a hit with it in 1966.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know how to pony
Do you know how to dance the Pony, a popular dance move of the time
Like Bony Maronie
Just like how Bony Maronie would dance
Do you know how to twist
Do you know how to dance the Twist, another popular move of the time
Goes like this
The dance move is demonstrated for you
Mashed potatoes
Do you know how to dance the Mashed Potato, a dance craze?
Slow alligator
A slower dance, imitating the movements of an alligator
Twist the twister
A play on words, telling you to dance the Twist move
Like little sister
Dance the Twist move like a little sister would
Do you get the Yoyo
Do you know how to dance the Yoyo, another popular move?
The endless gogo
A dance that goes on all night
Do you do the fish
Do you know how to dance the Fish, yet another popular move?
Goes like this
The dance move is again demonstrated for you
Do you do the tango
Do you know how to dance the Tango, a passionate dance for two?
Takes two to tango
As the name suggests, you need a partner to Tango
Get down on your knees
Kneel down for the next move
Do the sweet peas
Dance the Sweet Pea, a move that involves kneeling and swaying
Roll over on your back
Lie down on your back for the next move
Say I like it like that
Say that you like this dance move
Do the watussi
Dance the Watussi, a dance style with African roots
Do the watussi
Again, dance the Watussi
Can you do the fly
Do you know how to do the Fly, another dance move?
With a hand jive
Do the Fly with a Hand Jive dance move
Do you do the slot
Do you know how to dance the Slot, a dance step that involves shuffling your feet?
Shakin' in a bop
Shake your body while dancing the Bop
Then you go home
After a night of dancing, it's time to go home
So you won't be all alone
Leaving the dance so you won't be lonely
So bye bye children
A farewell to those at the dance
Bye bye children
Again, saying goodbye to fellow dancers
Come on with me children
Let's all go together
Lets go children
Encouragement to continue dancing
I wanna show you
I want to show you something
This little place
A small location
Across the track
On the other side of the train tracks
The name of the place
The name of this location
I'll like it like that
I enjoy this location, and you will too
The name of the band
Introducing the name of the band that is playing
The fat men
The name of the band is 'The Fat Men'
Lets go children
A final encouragement to continue dancing
The fat men
Repeating the name of the band
Lets go children
One last encouragement to keep dancing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Christopher Kenner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
priscianusjr
Absolutely. And what makes it even more magical is that the whole thing is nothing but a short melodic fragment repeated over and over, over one chord. But with the most perfect groove and soulful singing ever put together. Never get tired of it.
Zona Libre R
Is "The New Orleans flavor" 😉, The birthplace of syncopated music from Jazz to Funk.
Fred Campbell
Great original raw version sung by Chris Kenner and produced by Isaac "Sax" Kari Toombs AKA Sax Kari. Currently reading "The Chitlin Circuit: And The Road To Rock N' Roll". A must read if you into the history of music.
Jeffrey McCutchen
One of my favorites as a kid this version only!
A Dog Named Handsome
Never heard this version before. Thanks for posting.
joseph costello
Very soulful the others were more poppy nothing wrong with that. But this is amazing
barbara brown
This artist singing this song bring back many childhood memories love this song
Raymond Malcuit Jr.
Chris Kenner's Version Of This Song Went To Number 77 On The Billboard Hot 100 Chart In 1963.
Raymond Russell
The original, the best. Real feeling.
Benjamin Esparza
Story goes during rehearsals for the “Cannibal and the Headhunters” recording, the backing musicians’ groove was so funky and soulful that Cannibal was in awe and, on his vocal cue, just started singing gibberish which resulted in the now famous “Na nananana nananana nanana nanana nananana!” The producer and everyone else in the studio shouted “KEEP THAT” and rehearsed it for the recording session the following day. Source: “Land of a Thousand Dances - Chicano Rock in Southern California”.