Land of 1000 Dances

About

Land of 1000 Dances is a rhythm and blues standard written and first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962, later popularised by Wilson Pickett in 1966. Robbie Williams has never released a studio version, but the song became a recurring feature of his live performances in the early 2000s, most notably during his 2003 Knebworth concerts. The track also appears in the biographical film Better Man, underscoring one of the performance sequences.

Williams incorporated Land of 1000 Dances into his live arrangements as a high-energy medley piece, supported by his touring band and an expanded brass section. The song appeared in the setlist of several major shows from the Live at Knebworth era, where it functioned as an audience participation highlight.

The lyrics, built around a catalogue of dance calls, allowed Williams to extend the arrangement with improvised crowd interactions and rhythmic breaks. His performance style drew on the horn-driven vitality of Pickett’s recording while adapting it for stadium-scale dynamics.

I wanted something that lifted the whole field, a way of getting everybody movingRobbie Williams

Although never recorded for a studio release, Land of 1000 Dances gained renewed visibility through its inclusion in Better Man and remains associated with Williams’s most celebrated early stadium performances.