THE KLF
Justified & Ancient
«Justified & Ancient» is a song by British band The KLF. It was featured on their 1991 album, The White Room, but its origins date back to the duo’s debut album, 1987 (What the Fuck Is Going On?).
The song is best known for its remake that was released on 25 November 1991 as a pop-house single subtitled «Stand by The JAMs», with verses featuring the vocals of American country music singer Tammy Wynette. This version was an international hit, reaching number two on both the UK Singles Chart, and the US dance chart, number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and hitting number one in 18 countries.
Track information
- Released March 1991 (original track)
25 November 1991 (remade) - Recorded Trancentral
- Genre
House freestyle - Label KLF Communications (UK)
- Songwriter(s)
Jimi CautyBill DrummondRicardo Lyte
Background
The KLF—King Boy D (Bill Drummond) and Rockman Rock (Jimmy Cauty)—began working together in 1987 as The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (The JAMs). The song title «Justified & Ancient» refers to this pseudonym. The JAMs took their name from a fictional subversive cult from the 1970s conspiratorial novels The Illuminatus! Trilogy. Just as the fictional JAMs made it their remit to propagate chaos and confusion, so too did the real JAMs and the KLF. Their attempts to subvert the music industry and other establishments were frequent, unconcealed and controversial. The song «Justified & Ancient» is a statement of identity and rebellious intent. Moreover, it deliberately understates this intent. In contrast to the provocative and abrasive lyrics of the JAMs’ album 1987 (What the Fuck Is Going On?), on which «Justified & Ancient» first appeared, the song has a soft and innocuous tune, and quaint lyrics:
«We don’t want to upset the apple-cart, and we don’t want to cause any harm, but if you don’t like what we’re going to do, you’d better not stop us ’cause we’re coming through.»
"Stand by The JAMs" featuring Tammy Wynette
In November 1991, the single «Justified & Ancient (Stand by The JAMs)» was released, featuring the lead vocals of country music singer Tammy Wynette, introduced in the sleevenotes as «the first lady of country». Drummond flew to Nashville to personally produce the recording of Wynette’s vocals.
«Justified & Ancient (Stand by The JAMs)» was an upbeat and funky version of the song, the subtitle referencing Tammy Wynette’s signature song «Stand by Your Man», and the inclusion of subtle pedal steel guitar also referencing Wynette’s country origins. The «Justified & Ancient» single marked a departure from The KLF’s previous «Stadium House» trilogy of hits, which were driven by hooks and riffs and emulated a live performance by using sampled crowd noise. In contrast, the riffs, samples and rap of «Justified & Ancient (Stand by The JAMs)» were secondary to its conventional song structure of verses and choruses. Still, a riff borrowed from Jimi Hendrix’ «Voodoo Child (Slight Return)» runs through the choruses.
A longer mix of this arrangement, «Justified & Ancient (All Bound for Mu Mu Land)», dispensed with the pedal steel and substituted Wynette’s lead vocals with those of Maxine Harvey, a regular contributor to The KLF’s material. It also contained an additional verse making references to various aspects of The KLF’s mythology.
Some commentators were suspicious that the surprising pairing of Wynette with The KLF («perhaps the oddest modern-day pop pairing» according to The Independent) was a marketing ploy. Other commentators pointed to The KLF member Drummond’s fondness for country music as motivating the collaboration, or to the fact a period of almost exactly 23 years separated the first airings of «Stand by Your Man» and «… (Stand by The JAMs)»
«I really don’t know why they chose me. I was apprehensive at first, but I’m really excited with the way it’s all turned out», Wynette said. «Mu Mu Land looks a lot more interesting than Tennessee…. But I wouldn’t want to live there.»
«Justified & Ancient (Stand by The JAMs)» was the final single to be released commercially by The KLF through retail channels, following the US release of «America: What Time Is Love?» and followed only by a limited edition mail order release of a re-recording of «3 a.m. Eternal» featuring Extreme Noise Terror.
