"How Long"
side-A label by MCA Records
1979 US reissue by MCA Records
Single by Ace
from the album Five-A-Side
B-side"Sniffin' About"
ReleasedMarch 1975 (U.S.)
Recorded1974
StudioRockfield Studios, Rockfield, Monmouthshire
Genre
Length3:21 (Album version)
3:09 (Single version)
LabelAnchor
Songwriter(s)Paul Carrack[4]
Producer(s)John Anthony
Ace singles chronology
"How Long"
(1975)		 "I Ain't Gonna Stand for This"
(1975)
Music video
Ace (with Paul Carrack) - How Long • TopPop on YouTube
Alternative release
Side-A label by Eric Records
US reissue by Eric Records

"How Long" is the debut single by the English band Ace, from their 1974 debut album, Five-A-Side. It reached No. 3 in the US and Canadian charts, and No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart.[5]

In a 1981 issue of Smash Hits, Phil Collins named the song as one of his top 10 favourites, describing it as a "classic single".[6]

Background

Although widely interpreted as being about adultery, the song was in fact composed by lead singer Paul Carrack upon discovering that bassist Terry ("Tex") Comer had been secretly working with the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver.[7] The ‘friends with their fancy persuasions’ cited in the lyrics are said to be in reference to the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver's management.[7]

The guitar solo is by lead guitarist Phil Harris. Alan 'Bam' King was the band's rhythm guitarist, formerly with the Action.

The band had originally tried to record the song as a "Motown"-type single for Anchor Records, but gave up in favour of recording their first album at Rockfield Studios in Wales. The song was recorded for the album.[8]

Personnel

Chart history

Cover versions

  • Australian band Scandal charted in the top 50 of the Kent Music Report with their version. It is from their only album release Scandal (1978).
  • Lipps Inc., in 1980, hit No. 4 on the U.S. dance chart, No. 29 on the U.S. soul singles chart, No. 42 in Canada (2 weeks),[21] and No. 44 in Australia.[22] Their cover version sold one million units in Mexico.[23]
  • Rod Stewart, in 1981, charted in the top 50 of the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100[24] and No. 26 in Ireland. It was included on his album Tonight I'm Yours.[25]
  • In 1993, British reggae group Aswad and singer Yazz reached No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart,[26] with their take from Yazz's 1994 album One on One.[27]
  • Composer and original vocalist Paul Carrack recorded a solo version for his 1995 album Blue Views.[28] It reached No. 32 on the UK chart.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Thomas, Stephen. "How Long - Ace : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "How Long - Ace |". Toponehitwonders.com. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Pub Rock". Nostalgiacentral.com. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Ace : How Long". Discogs.com. 1974. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 13. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ↑ Collins, Phil (19 January 2021). "All Time Top 10". Flickr.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Ace | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Paul Carrack : The Greatest Hits : The Story So Far" (PDF). Static1.squarespace.com. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3969a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  11. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 10 May 1975. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Ace - How Long".
  13. ↑ "Ace: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  14. ↑ ""Ace – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Ace". Billboard.
  15. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 12.
  16. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 5/31/75". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  17. ↑ "Ace Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  19. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  20. ↑ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1975". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  21. ↑ "RPM Top 50 Singles - December 20, 1980" (PDF).
  22. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 178. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  23. ↑ "Mexico Hot For Lipps, Vice Versa" (PDF). Billboard. 28 February 1981. p. 52. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  24. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (10 January 1945). "Rod Stewart | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  25. ↑ "Search Help". Google.com. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  26. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 613. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  27. ↑ "Yazz - One On One". Discogs.com. 1994. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  28. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Blue Views - Paul Carrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
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