Land of a Thousand Dances

Popular 1960s soul musician Wilson Pickett had a hit with "Land of 1000 Dances" in 1966. How could anyone forget such memorable lyrics like "do the alligator" or "watch 'em work, ya'll"? As a later song said, they do not write them like that anymore. What makes songs instant dance hits is the music and the artists that perform them. Pickett had a raw voice, often screaming and rapping through his songs. He was also high energy and could work a crowd into a frenzy. Pickett's music was made for aerobics before aerobic exercise was invented. Rock n' Roll is not the only music that makes the U.S.A. the land of a thousand dances, but that is another article. How many of these dance tunes do you remember?

1957 "The Stroll" the Diamonds
"...well, rock my soul, how I love to stroll"

1958 "Willie & The Hand Jive" Johnny Otis
"...they're all diggin' that crazy beat"

1959 "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop" Little Anthony & the Imperials
"...along came a native girl, did a native dance"

1959 "Everybody Likes To Cha, Cha, Cha" Sam Cooke
"...if you let me take you by the hand, I'm gonna teach this dance to you"

1960 "The Hucklebuck" Chubby Checker
"...if you don't know how to do it, then you're outta luck"

1961 "Peppermint Twist" Joey Dee & the Starliters
"...a one, two, three, four, kick, one two three jump"

1961 "Pony Time" Chubby Checker
"...bobbity, boggity, boogity shoo"

1961 "The Fly" Chubby Checker
"...and then you buzz all around the floor"

1961 "The Majestic" Dion
"...man, it's the greatest dance you ever saw"

1961 "Bristol Stomp" the Dovells
"...it's got that groovy beat, that makes you stomp your feet"

1961 "The Fish" Bobby Rydell
"...it's a natural dance to do"

1962 "Limbo Rock" Chubby Checker
"...gonna do the limbo rock, all around the limbo clock"

1962 "Do The New Continental" the Dovells
"...this dance Is all brand new'

1962 "Popeye, The Hitchhiker"
"...and thumb your thumbs, that's how the Popeye dance is done"

1963 "The Monkey Time" Major Lance
"...now this dance that the people do, I don't know how it started"

1963 "Mickey's Monkey" the Miracles
"...came from out of town, he been spreadin this new dance all around"

1963 "The Bird's The Word" the Rivingtons
"...swinginest dance to hit the scene"

1963 "Walking The Dog" Rufus Thomas
"...if you don't know how to do it, I'll show you how"

1964 "Wah Tushi" Orlons
"...c'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance"

1964 "The Jerk" the Larks
"...you don't know how to do it? Come on, gonna teach it to ya"

1965 "Mashed Potatoes" Dee Dee Sharp
"..started a long time ago with a guy named Sloppy Joe"

1966 "Cool Jerk" the Capitols
"...can you do it, can you do it, can you do it, can you do it, can you do it..."

1967 "Funky Broadway" Wilson Pickett
"...out on Broadway, there's a dance yeah"

1968 "Tighten' Up" Archie Bell & the Drells
"we don't only sing, but we dance just good as we want"

1969 "The Real Nitty Gritty" Gladys Knight & the Pips
"...let the music sink down in your soul, double beatin', keep repeatin',"

Honorable mentions: 1968 "The Horse" Cliff Nobles & Company and 1969 "Popcorn" James Brown were popular dance tunes with no lyrics.

There is still time to create a dance mix tape for your New Years house party. This list can get you started; it is but a small sample of dance tunes from this land of a thousand dances. Borrowing a line from a 1971 John Lennon tune, I wish you all "...a happy New Year, let`s hope it`s a good one, without any fear."