THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

329-The KLF featuring Tammy Wynette-Justified & Ancient (Stand By the JAMs.

1991-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.25. This is perhaps the most unusual match-up in Pop music history, where the critically acclaimed, House, Techo, and Hip-Hop act The KLF teamed up with the ‘First Lady of Country Music,’ with Tammy Wynette making the transition from ‘Stand By Your Man,’ to ‘Stand By the JAM’s.’

The KLF are Bill Drummond (King Boy D) and Jimmy Cauty (Rockman Rock) who joined forces in 1987, in London, England, they have also worked together using six other names including ‘The Timelords,’ and ‘K Foundation.’ Bill Drummond was born William Ernest Drummond on April 29th, 1953, in Butterworth, South Africa. In 1978 he was the co-founder of the Liverpool Punk Rock band ‘Big in Japan,’ who although never achieving commercial success were responsible for kick starting the careers of several artists including Holly Johnson,(see also best songs 19) Budgie,(see also best songs 668 and 238) and Ian Broudie. Jimmy Cauty was born James Francis Cauty on December 19th, 1956, in Wirral, Cheshire, England, alongside working with Drummond, he was also the co-founder of the ‘Ambient House,’ Electronic group ‘The Orb,’ with Alex Patterson in 1988, Cauty has been married to Alannah Currie formerly of the ‘Thompson Twins’ since 2011 (see also best songs 552.)

In early 1987 Drummond who was already a big name in the music industry, having been the manager of ‘Echo & the Bunnymen (see also best songs 971) and the ‘Teardrops Explodes’ decided it was time for a change, and wanting to make a Hip-Hop record he got in touch with Jimmy Cauty who he had known from previous ventures. The duo named themselves ‘The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu.’ a name along with ‘The KLF’ that were both inspired by ‘The Illuminatus! Trilogy,’ a series of three novels by Robert Shea, (1933-1994) and Robert Anton Wilson, (1932-2007) first published in 1975. Under differing names Drummond and Cauty have released six studio Albums, and 22 singles together between 1987-1997. In the UK they have achieved eight top 40 singles with both ‘Doctorin’ the Tardis’ as ‘The Timelords,’ and ‘3 a.m. Eternal (Live at the S.S.L.) as ‘The KLF’ both reaching Number 1, while in America two of their singles have reached the Billboard top 40, including this song which made Number 11 in 1991.

Tammy Wynette was born Virginia Wynette Pugh on May 5th, 1942, in Tremont, Mississippi, United States, along with Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson (1947-2015) and Dolly Parton (see also best songs 704) she is credited with defining the role of women in Country music in the 1970’s. Wynette was given her stage name by the record producer Billy Sherrill (1936-2015) who after seeing Wynette wearing her long blonde hair in a ponytail was reminded of Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016) in the film ‘Tammy and the Bachelor.’ Wynette suffered with many medical problems, including an addiction to pain killers, and is said to have had in the region of 26 major operations. She died at the age of 55 from a blood clot on her lung. Tammy Wynette released 33 studio Albums between 1967-1994, and a further nine with her husband George Jones ( 1931-2013) (before and after their divorce) from 1971-1995.

‘Justified & Ancient’ (Stand By the JAM’s’) was partly written back in 1987, with a more downbeat version appearing on their fourth and final studio Album of new music ‘The White Room,’ released in 1991. The song tells the tale of when Drummond and Cawty bought an ice cream van to use as a promotional tool, it also tells of the duo getting in touch with Tammy Wynette to record the song. The unaccredited Rap on the track was performed by Ricardo Lyte, (1967-2013) who along with Drummond and Cawty are credited as the songs writers.

‘They called me up in Tennessee, they said ‘Tammy stand by the Jams,’ but if you don’t like what they’re going to do, you better not stop them ’cause they’re coming through.’