Listen to Wilson Pickett’s ‘Land of 1,000 Dances’ from Sex Education, Season 3, Ep. 1

One of the tracks that showed up on the new season of the Netflix drama Sex Education this week was Wilson Pickett’s ‘Land of 1,000 Dances‘, which was played on Sex Education, Season 3, Episode 1.

That fabulous track was heard as Hope is dancing, and is likely one of those songs you have sung and danced to 1,000 times, but still don’t know what it’s called.

I know I didn’t for the longest time because, like a lot of people, I thought it was called ‘The Mashed Potato‘.

But no…

Wilson Pickett’s ‘Land of 1,000 Dances‘ was recorded by the American R&B, soul singer in 1966 and was released as a single from his third album The Exciting Wilson Pickett.

It became the #1 song on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart for several weeks, as well as making it to #6 on the pop charts.

Related: Big Mama Thornton’s ‘Hound Dog’ was one of the fabulous tracks on Season 3 of Sex Education

Wilson Pickett’s recording of ‘Land of 1,000 Dances‘ was not actually the song’s first or only recording, as it was a cover version of the original release by R&B singer Chris Kenner four years previously.

It is, however, the track’s most popular version, not only due to Pickett’s incredible voice and the song’s initial success but also because it has been licensed for play on films like the hit British movie The Full Monty, Forrest Gump and Old Dogs.

It has also shown up on TV shows like Please Like Me, WKRP in Cincinnati and Beverly Hills, 90210.

Listen to Wilson Pickett’s ‘Land of 1,000 Dances’, as heard on Sex Education in the video of a superb live performance Pickett gave of the track decades ago, and on his hit album The Exciting Wilson Pickett.

 

 

About Michelle Topham

I'm a Brit-American journalist, former radio DJ at 97X WOXY, and Founder/CEO of Leo Sigh. I'm also obsessed with music, anime, manga, and K-dramas. Help!