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.
Something You Got
Chris Kenner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes me work all day
Something you got, baby
Makes me bring home my pay
Something you got, baby
You ought to know
My my, whoa whoa
I love you so
Something you got, baby
Makes the world go 'round
Something you got, baby
Keep me home every night
Something you got, baby
You ought to know
You ought to know
Whoa, whoa, my, my
Whoa I love you so
Something you got
Makes me work all day
Something you got
Makes me bring home my pay
Something you got
You ought to know
My my, whoa whoa
I love you so
The lyrics of Chris Kenner's song "Something You Got" are about the power of love and how it can completely consume and control a person's actions and emotions. The repeated phrase "Something you got, baby" refers to the indescribable feeling that the singer's lover gives them, something that is so powerful that it makes them work all day and brings home their pay. The singer is deeply in love and acknowledges that the person they are with has something special that cannot be explained, but is nonetheless irresistible to them.
The song continues to talk about how this love keeps the singer at home every night and how it makes the world go 'round. The repetition of lyrics throughout the song puts emphasis on the overwhelming feeling of love that the singer experiences. The line "You ought to know" is also repeated multiple times, perhaps as a plea to the lover to acknowledge the power they hold over the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Something you got, baby
There's something about you that I desire
Makes me work all day
Your presence motivates me to do better and work harder
Makes me bring home my pay
I work for you because I want to provide for you
You ought to know
I want you to be aware of the effect you have on me
My my, whoa whoa
An expression of passion and admiration
I love you so
I am deeply in love with you
Makes the world go 'round
Your influence is significant and affects everything
Keep me home every night
I am content being with you and don't need anything else
You ought to know
I want you to understand how much you mean to me
Whoa, whoa, my, my
A continued expression of passion
Whoa I love you so
I am deeply in love with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRIS KENNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jay R
I was born and raised in New Orleans and always loved Chris Kenner music. I knew he was local, but didn't know he was from Kenner. The bio says he was born in 1929, so he was older than my mother by 7 years. Chris Kenner was a big star back in the day. He did "LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES", and a host of others. Of course I was too young to see him on tour, but the radio stations played his music all the time. The Cresent City musicians were so close..Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino, Johnny Adams, Jessie Hill, Lloyd Price, Ernie K Doe and a host of others defined the New Orleans Soul Sound. I loved growing up there, and now at 70 years old, I MISS the spirit, feel and sounds of the city. It was a fantastic place to grow up in.
When I go back now it just doesn't feel the same. All my older relatives have passed on, but my younger cousins are still there. Great job, Chris! Rest In Peace.
Elrita Ferrera
Reminds me of old days in New Orleans!... Love This version by Chris Kenner!.
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 73yo Aussie fan.
Fantastic sounds from a great vocalist & band.
Steve
You sure know how to pick em, John!! Don't fall off the marble!!
trfesok
Covered by both the Moody Blues (on their 1st album) and Them (on their 2nd). I put both and this original in my "Magnificent Moodies" playlist. Thanks for the upload!
Henry Kujawa
Always loved this by The Moody Blues (with Denny Laine). Amazed, thanks to Youtube, HOW MANY people have recorded this!!! B.B. King's is also very cool.
Alfredo Finotti
Un brano meraviglioso e indimenticabile.
Tapia Luis Enrique Tapia
Son grandisimas las personas que suben estas inolvidables canciones de loa 50,60s saludos
Steve
Hola, mi amigo.....
Liz Robbins
I love the message!
I love the piano!
I love the horns!
My My, Oh Oh... I love it so!
x2
Much better than Jr. Walker's version.