For four years now, I have had ‘Stand by Your Man’ on the list of prospective features for Ted Tocks Covers. Each year, significant dates related to this song came and went and it ended up on the cutting room floor. I have always struggled with a way to present this as a feature because in many ways this signature offering by Tammy Wynette could only have been written and been a massive success in the era that it was released. Having said that, there is a catch. Read on.
‘Stand by Your Man’ was recorded on this day in 1968 and subsequently released on September 20, of that year. Initially, elements of the song made Tammy Wynette uncomfortable, but once the song gained widespread acceptance, she recognized its power and there was never a Tammy Wynette show without a rousing rendition of ‘Stand by Your Man’. This classic country song was co-written by Tammy Wynette and her producer, Billy Sherrill. As legend has it, it took the pair about 15 minutes to write, while recording at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville. Not only was Wynette reluctant due to the nature of the message, the vocalist also had to really push herself to hit a high note at the end of the song. Part of the anxiety related to this point was alleviated by including the vocal prowess of the renowned backup group The Jordanaires, who were a prominent fixture on many Tammy Wynette recordings.
Even Billy Sherrill was surprised by the fact that ‘Stand by Your Man’ went straight to the top of the country music charts for three weeks. He thought Wynette would never surpass the success of her previous hit. There is some irony here, ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E’. ‘Stand by Your Man’ became a crossover hit in the United States and Canada and it also reached #1 in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Interestingly, the album ‘Stand by Your Man’ was not released in Europe until 1975. In addition to the commercial success, ‘Stand by Your Man’ received a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female and in 1999 the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. To add to the mystique, it was also selected by the Library of Congress in 2010 for inclusion in the National Recording Registry for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
At the time of its release ‘Stand by Your Man’ was caught somewhat in a changing world. The feminist movement was taking form and they saw the song as flawed in its stance that suggests women should simply take on traditional roles. The debate raged on, but through the years Wynette stood by her song. She suggested it was not intended to make women subservient in any way, it was more a matter of acceptance. Overlook their husband’s shortcomings and faults and love them for who they truly are, because “after all, he’s just a man.”
In fact, that line right there is the one that made me once again consider writing this feature. The “after all, he’s just a man” line actually places women on a higher platform. Maybe the feminists had it wrong?
There are a few things I do know.
After nearly thirty years of marriage, I have detected a constant pattern. No matter how much I resist, Heather is always right. It’s uncanny.
Having said that, I don’t ever expect to hear Heather singing ‘Stand by Your Man’ in the shower any time soon. She will, however, agree with the suggestion to shake her head and remind herself that “I am just a man”.
Somewhat flawed and trying to do my best.
Meanwhile, I have no issue with singing this old classic. This will be a post for another day, but it fits in nicely here.
And not me but the people they say
Harry Belafonte
That de man are leading de women astray
But I say, that the women of today
Smarter than the man in every way
That’s right de woman is uh smarter
That’s right de woman is uh smarter
That’s right de woman is uh smarter, that’s right, that’s right”
Generally speaking, this has been my experience in life as I am comfortably into my second half century of existence, being “just a man”.
Let’s move on to the cover versions of today’s classic. There are many. I had to narrow it down to any combination of quality, significance, and lighthearted humour.
I begin with a cover by Loretta Lynn, who may just as well have co-written ‘Stand by Your Man’ alongside Tammy Wynette. While Tammy was struggling with her marriage to country legend and notorious partier George Jones, Lynn was literally standing by her marriage to the deeply flawed and appropriately named Doolittle ‘Mooney’ Lynn. Check out this quote and then the emotional cover released on her 1969 album ‘Women of the World/To Make a Man’.
I married Doo when I wasn’t but a child, and he was my life from that day on. But as important as my youth and upbringing was, there’s something else that made me stick to Doo. He thought I was something special, more special than anyone else in the world, and never let me forget it. That belief would be hard to shove out the door. Doo was my security, my safety net. And just remember, I’m explainin’, not excusin’… Doo was a good man and a hard worker. But he was an alcoholic, and it affected our marriage all the way through.”
Loretta Lynn
In 1980 The Blues Brothers movie came out and they famously performed this version while being protected by chicken wire. Just awesome. In addition to Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi, you also see several other music legends in this clip. That’s Steve Cropper and Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy on guitar, Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn on bass, Murphy Dunne on keyboards, Tom ‘Bones’ Malone on trombone, ‘Blue’ Lou Marini on sax, and the drummer is Willie ‘Too Tall’ Hall.
This version by Lemmy of Motorhead fame along with Wendy O.Williams is an absolute treat. They may be playing it ironically, but they pull it off.
This version from Alvin and the Chipmunk’s Brittany Miller along with Tammy Wynette is fun and it comes with a bit of a life lesson.
In 1992, Lyle Lovett sang ‘Stand by Your Man’ as the closing song for the movie ‘The Crying Game’.
Whenever Elton John covers a song like ‘Stand by Your Man’ I am all in. Here is his version from a tribute album called ‘Tammy Wynette Remembered’. Fittingly, it was the opening track on this 1998 release, that was put together to commemorate Wynette’s career shortly after her death in April of 1998. She was only 55. If I was to rate the cover versions Elton John’s would be at the top.
This version just had to be shared. This is Georgette Jones. She is the daughter of Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Jones and Wynette were a country music super couple, but unfortunately their marriage was a turbulent one, with several allegations of violence and abuse. Jones denied the allegations…and the beat goes on. The good news is Tamala Georgette Jones has released a few successful albums in the past decade or so, and one of them is a tribute album called ‘‘Til I Can Make it On My Own’ which was released in 2013.
As my final cover, please enjoy this brilliant portrayal that includes Canadian country music artist Drake Jensen (‘Every Time I See Your Picture’). Jensen appears alongside American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter Willam Belli. Willam came into prominence in season 4 of ‘Ru Paul’s Drag Race’ and is among the most recognizable performers in her genre. This was released back in 2012 on Belli’s release ‘The Wreckoning’. The pair cast an impressive presence in this video. Again, just a ton of fun and very well done.
As indicated above, there is no doubt ‘Stand by Your Man’ is a cultural classic. The more I write about, listen to, and watch the presentations, the more I see its positive implications. It has been incorporated in movies frequently. Many times, it has been referenced in songs by renowned artists like The Clash. It has been spoofed and it has been cited for its positive message of acceptance. Perhaps the most famous effort to attempt to bring it back to the mainstream, and possibly why my memory of this song was so jaded occurred in 1992 when Hillary Clinton attempted to bring the song into an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes. Hillary was asked a question about her husband Bill Clinton’s extramarital affair with Gennifer Flowers. This allegation had been raised during the 1992 Presidential campaign, just ahead of the New Hampshire primary. The Clinton’s took part in the interview together and when confronted Bill Clinton, ultimately lied about his involvement with Flowers, and Hillary made a statement to the effect that “she could have chosen to be like women staying home and baking cookies and having teas but, wanted to pursue her career instead”. Then she went on to say that she wasn’t “some little woman standing by her my man, like Tammy Wynette.”
Oh Hillary!
I truly believe she has a heart, buried in there somewhere. Unfortunately, she is so far removed from the reality of the average American that her ability to come across as a sympathetic character is most accurately reflected in negative numbers.
We are still living the result.
The condemnation of Hillary Clinton based on this statement was immediate, and even Tammy Wynette chimed in.
With all that is in me, I resent your caustic remark. I, with no apologies,I am as angry as I can be with your statement…Mrs. Clinton, you have offended every woman and man who love that song…I will not stand by and allow you or any other person to embarrass, humiliate and degrade me on national television and print without hearing from me.”
Tammy Wynette
Imagine…this was before social media.
It’s all ‘whitewater’ under the bridge now, and the divide has grown even wider over the last three decades. Hopefully sanity will prevail someday.
So, referring back to the opening paragraph, it seems the catch within this offering is that perfect interjection that states “after all he’s just a man”. Perhaps it was never about subservience at all? It was about empowerment.
No matter, the interpretation, it remains a classic cross genre song. We really should be a long way past the battle of the sexes and equality discussions. Sadly, here too, there is a disparity. We need to work together to bridge the gap. In that space I will stand by any woman who shares the appropriate values. Bad actors, CONservatives and Republicans need not apply.
Let progress reign.
Stay safe everyone.
Ted Tocks Covers 