KLF - JUSTIFY AND ANCIENT / 3 a.m. ETERNAL 

JUSTIFY AND ANCIENT (STAND BY THE JAMS)

Released: November 25, 1991

Charted:  US: #11   UK: #2 

"Justified & Ancient" by the KLF originated from their debut album in 1987 but gained fame with its remake released on November 25, 1991. The pop-house single, subtitled "Stand by the JAMs," featured American country music singer Tammy Wynette on vocals. This version became an international hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart, number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and topping charts in 18 countries.

The title "Justified & Ancient" pays homage to the KLF's earlier identity as "The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu" (The JAMs). This pseudonym was inspired by the Illuminatus! book series, where the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu are a fictional subversive cult. The song's lyrics depict the Justified Ancients journeying to Mu Mu Land in an ice cream van. The line "Make mine a 99" references the KLF's promotional stunt where they hijacked an ice cream van in Liverpool to give out free 99 ice creams. This event is also mentioned in the song's lyrics with the line, "They're justified and they're ancient and they drive an ice cream van."

The subtitle "(Stand By The JAMs)" pays homage to Tammy Wynette's hit "Stand By Your Man". In the video, Wynette is depicted sitting on a throne while the words "Miss Tammy Wynette is the first lady of country music" scroll by. Wynette initially misunderstood the title as "Justified And Anxious" until KLF's Bill Drummond clarified it for her in Nashville. Despite initial confusion, the collaboration revived Wynette's career, leading to an influx of interest from other pop stars' agents and managers.

"Justified & Ancient (Stand by the JAMs)" marked the KLF's final release through retail channels before Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty retired the KLF name and left the music business.

3 a.m. ETERNAL 

Released: January 7, 1991 (live at the S.S.L.)

Charted:  US: #5     UK: #1 (2 weeks)

"3 a.m. Eternal" by the KLF is a track from their album "The White Room" and was released as a single between 1989 and 1992 by their label KLF Communications. The reworked version titled "3 a.m. Eternal (Live at the S.S.L.)," was tailored for a broader audience and released on January 7, 1991. It featured rap verses by Ricardo da Force and opening vocals by soul legend P.P. Arnold, both of whom also appeared in the music video. To create the illusion of a live recording, crowd noise, purportedly from a live U2 concert, was added to the mix. The subtitle "S.S.L." refers to a Solid State Logic mixing desk, highlighting the technical aspect of the production. 

"3 a.m. Eternal" was originally recorded in 1988 by the duo Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty. Three years later, they revamped the song with DJ and rapper Ricardo Da Force and vocalist Maxine Harvey. Ricardo Da Force, also known as Ricardo Lyte, met Drummond and Cauty while DJing in Ibiza. Impressed by his rapping, they asked him to contribute to their album. 

PP Arnold's experience with The KLF duo was not entirely positive, as she felt uncomfortable with some aspects of their collaboration. She expressed dissatisfaction with the suits she was asked to wear for the video, likening them to those worn by the Ku Klux Klan, which made her reluctant to wear them. As a result, she appears only briefly in the video, at the beginning and end, as she voiced her concerns about another artist miming to her voice on Top of the Pops.

The KLF's performance of "3 a.m. Eternal" at the 1992 Brit Awards caused quite a stir. Starting with the lyrics "This is radio freedom," accompanied by the sound of machine gun fire, they shocked the audience by firing a real machine gun loaded with blanks. The unexpected spectacle caused a commotion as the audience reacted in shock. Following the performance, at the Brit Awards after-party, The KLF made a bold statement by leaving a dead sheep and announcing their departure from the music industry. To emphasize their decision, they deleted their entire back catalogue of music, demonstrating their commitment to leaving the industry behind.