Customer Reviews

Land of 1000 Dances

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Chris Kenner is a forgotten great of the '50s New Orleans R & B scene. Known primarily as a great songwriter, the songs he penned proved to be chart toppers for other artists (i.e., Wilson Pickett, who scored with Kenner's "Land of 1000 Dances" and "Something You Got"). However, he cut dozens of sides as a solo artist in the '50s and they're all of a very high quality. His voice is not extraordinary but is full of feeling. He brings an understanding and delivery to the material that only the songwriter could bring. The sound is firmly entrenched in the '50s New Orleans R & B tradition, probably most reminiscent of Fats Domino (who co-writes a couple of the tracks found here). Great, rolling piano and honking saxes dominate. For the uninitiated, it seems that many of the artists from this period had a couple of hits (Ernie K-Doe being known for "Mother-In-Law," Earl King known for "Those Lonely Lonely Nights," etc.). But, the good news is, for Kenner and these other artists who are less known outside of New Orleans, all their stuff is pretty consistent. Music you can just turn on and sit back to, without worrying about hitting crummy tracks. Kenner's stuff ain't gonna set the world on fire but it's definitely catchy, danceable, and fun, like all the best N. O. R & B. He deserves to be in your party disc collection. Other greats to check out for those interested in putting together a great Mardi Gras collection: the aforementioned Domino, K-Doe, King, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, and, above all, Huey "Piano" Smith (of "Sea Cruise" and "Rockin' Pneumonia & Boogie-Woogie Flu" fame). You can't go wrong with this disc!

Despite a 1961 Grammy award nomination for "I Like It Like That (Pts 1 and 2)," Chris Kenner has remained an obscure figure in R&B. The only other hit he produced was "Land of 1000 Dances," a tune that was later made popular with the mainstream white audience by Wilson Pickett. The Pickett version loses character in its translation from its rural roots to the Memphis hit factory, but it's Pickett's stone-washed version that always makes the R&B compilations and displaces Kenner's original version in the public memory. With the highjack of his signature song, Chris Kenner pretty much segued from obscurity to oblivion.

This compilation of Kenner's work, "Land of 1000 Dances," is not likely to revive his catalog with the listening audience. The album is an interesting historical document, but none of the songs equals "I Like It Like That" or "Land of 1000 Dances." The sole surprise that emerges from the collection is Kenner's strength as a gospel singer. Kenner's raspy, torn vocals undergo a bit of a metamorphosis in his gospel work so that Kenner compares favorably with the great Sam Cooke during his days with the Soul Stirrers. In his gospel pieces--notably "Time"--Kenner's dirt-simple and maddeningly repetitive R&B figures give way to traditional piano riffs that showcase some very poignant and forceful vocals.

Kenner's vocal style and studio production make up a rough mix indeed. If you measure the distance from the luster of Motown to the unpolished exuberance of Stax, then take it that much further down again on the scale of fit-and-finish, you arrive at Chris Kenner's offerings. In the R&B genealogy, he's the taproot. His songs are the unvarnished truth, but sometimes the truth needs a bit of embellishment.

Note: Copyright 2007 Elmore magazine and reprinted with permission.