10 Amazing Things You
Didn't Know About
Land Of A Thousand Dances
In 1985, the World Wrestling Federation released a video (which we'll share later) as the title track to The Wrestling Album called "Land Of A Thousand Dances." Campy as hell, and always worth a quick view, here a few things you probably didn't know about the unique recording:
1) Cyndi Lauper has an uncredited cameo in the video!
Grammy Award winning singer (and catalyst for The Rock & Wrestling Connection) Cyndi Lauper appears as part of the band throughout the video, as does her boyfriend Dave Wolff. You'd never know it was her, though, as she hides behind dark hair and sunglasses, and is billed as "Mona Flambé."
Interestingly enough, Lauper made other appearances as Flambé throughout her career, including this appearance on American Bandstand:
2) It's a cover version
Land Of A Thousand (or 1000) Dances was released in 1962 by the band Cannibal & The Headhunters, which would also make a great name for a wrestling faction. It was re-recorded numerous times, most famously by Wilson Pickett
3) Heels Get, Like, 75 % Of The Song To Themselves
Sure, there are moments where Captain Lou Albano, Junkyard Dog (and announcers Mean Gene Okerlund and Vince McMahon) get a few lines in, but most of the best parts are saved for heels such as Bobby Heenan, Magnificent Muraco and The Iron Sheik.
4) The video received national airplay
Land of a Thousand Dances was in regular rotation on MTV and helped propel The Wresting Album to # 84 on the Billboard charts in 1985 .
5) More Than 25 Future WWE Hall of Famers in the song!
Assuming the IMDB page for the Land Of A Thousand Dances video is accurate AND the people in the video also recorded the song, future WWE Hall of Famers who participated in the recording include:
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Captain Lou Albano
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Classy Freddie Blassie
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Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
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The Fabulous Moolah
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Howard Finkel
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Mr. Fuji
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Bret "Hit Man" Hart
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Jimmy Hart
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Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
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Hillbilly Jim
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Gorilla Monsoon
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Mean Gene Okerlund
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Paul Orndorff
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Bob Orton
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The Magnificent Muraco
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Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart
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Wendi Richter
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The Junkyard Dog
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Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
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Brutus Beefcake
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Nikolai Volkoff
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The Iron Sheik
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Luscious Johnny Valiant
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Wendi Richter
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Tito Santana
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Barry Windham
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Arnold Skaaland
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Randy "Macho Man" Savage
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George "The Animal" Steele
6) A bunch of also-rans also appear in the song
Uncle Elmer (w/potbellied pig) gets a speaking role in the song, but also look for appearances from the likes of:
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Cousin Junior
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S.D. "Special Delivery" Jones
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Barry O
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The Missing Link
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Steve Gatorwolf
7) One prominent WWF star didn't even show up!
Even though he was the top wrestler in the world, Hulk Hogan wasn't part of Land of a Thousand Dances. He didn't even make it to the photo session to the right, instead letting them set his 8 x 10 glossy up near the drum kit.
8) Meat Loaf is playing the drums!
In the years between Bat Out Of Hell and Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, musician Meat Loaf lent a hand to the production of The Wrestling Album. In the video for Land of a Thousand Dances, he appears on the drums numerous times, winking and making creepy eyes at the camera.
9) They totally changed the lyrics
At first, the song follows the original. But soon, there are lots of references to Hulk Hogan, King Kong Bundy's Avalanche and the Russian National Anthem.
10) The whole things ends in a schmozz
Towards the end of the song, Rowdy Roddy Piper goes on a long rant about hating rock and roll music and taking The Goonies and sticking them up your nose (?). In the video, this prompts Paul Orndorff to leap out of the babyface camp and confront Hot Rod. Mr. Wonderful gets Meat Loaf to pass him a drum, which promptly goes over the head of Bobby Heenan. Just like in real life.
All told, the video is four and a half minutes that are absolutely worth your time, highlighting all (except one) of the top WWF stars in the wake of the first WrestleMania dancing and clapping in a ridiculous fashion, with many of them playing ultra-cartoonish versions of their characters.
Well done, Meat Loaf. Well done.