Following the death of Wilson Pickett earlier this week, I posted my favourite Wilson Pickett songs. At the top of the list was "Land Of 1000 Dances". How this song came to be my favourite Wilson Pickett song has everything to do with wrestling. Allow me to explain.
In the early and mid-80s, I loved WWF wrestling. I watched every week, attended a few live performances and had my favourites. I was a huge fan of Rowdy Roddy Piper but like everyone else I had a keen interest in the popular actors of the time: Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy, Junk Yard Dog and others. In 1985, The Wrestling Album was released and I loved it. The lead track on side A (remember when we had sides!!!) was "Land Of A Thousand Dances?!!?" and it featured a number of wrestlers singing along with altered lyrics until Piper loses it at the end. "This is Hot Rod talking!"
Naturally, in the late 80s, I became interested in the original version of this song. Hearing Wilson Pickett's version reminded me of that the wrestling album I enjoyed so much as an eleven year old. Without Wilson Pickett, there would have been no "Land Of A Thousand Dances?!!?".
No wonder the enjoyment of songs is so subjective. So many factors and variables go into determining what we like and dislike. It's amazing there's any common ground.
