How Ace Are Buildings

How Ace Are Buildings
Studio album by A
Released	29 July 1997
Recorded	1996
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	57:52
Label	Tycoon/London (UK) Immortal/Epic (planned US release)
Producer	Thom Wilson
A chronology
How Ace Are Buildings (1997) A vs. Monkey Kong (1999)

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Allmusic

How Ace Are Buildings is the debut album by British alternative rock band A, released in 1997.

The album was re-released in 1998, in the form of cassette and LTD Edition 12". Whereas the cassette featured the same tracks, the 12" album also included a bonus vinyl, featuring 'A' remixes and live tracks.

This vinyl was limited to 500 copies.

Track listing

1. "Turn It Up" – 1:33
2. "Foghorn" – 3:04
3. "Cheeky Monkey" – 3:36
4. "Number One" – 3:50
5. "Bad Idea" – 2:21
6. "Sing-A-Long" – 4:20
7. "Winter Of '96" – 5:28
8. "Out Of Tune" – 4:19
9. "Fistral" – 3:59
10. "House Under The Ground" – 4:01
11. "Five In The Morning" – 3:14
12. "Ender" – 18:07

• Contains a hidden track at 14:49

"Number One" features a portion of lyrics taken from Billy Joel's 1978 track "My Life". Joel was namechecked in the credits as a result. The "borrowed" lyrics are:

"Got a call from an old friend, used to be real close

Said he couldn't go on the American way

Sold his house, sold his car

Bought a ticket to the West Coast

Now he gives 'em a stand-up routine in L.A."

"Cheeky Monkey" features a sample of the actor/comedian John Thomson using the phrase "oh, you cheeky monkey" - this is taken from Thompson's appearance on Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge in character as "Joe Beesley" an inept ventriloquist with a puppet monkey.

Bonus vinyl Track listing

1. "Turn It Down"
2. "Number One (Happy Valley Ranch Mix)"
3. "Alright (Live)"
4. "Bad Idea (Live)"
5. "Sing-A-Long (Post Term Audit Mix)"
6. "Five In The Morning (DJ Mental Visuals Mix)"
7. "Foghorn (Live)"
8. "Barnyard"
9. "Demolished House" (bside to foghorn, also remix of House Underground)
10. "Callhimin"
11. "Cheeky Monkey (Live)"
12. "Fistral (Major Threat Mix)"
13. "Out Of Tune (Live)

Singles

Bad Idea

1. "Bad Idea" – 2:16
2. "Look What You Made Me Do" – 3:12
3. "40" – 2:30

Foghorn

1. "Foghorn" – 3:07
2. "Last Girl" – 4:24
3. "A Demolished House" – 5:22

Sing-A-Long

1. "Sing-A-Long" – 4:19
2. "Sing-A-Long" – 4:22 (Post Team Audit Mix)
3. "Singing Out Of Tune" – 3:49 (In A Castle)
4. "Number One" – 3:22 (Radio Edit)
5. "Number One" (Video)

Number One

• CD1:

1. "Number One" – 3:21
2. "Good Idea" – 2:18
3. "Alright" – 2:41
4. "Sasquatch" – 2:52

• CD2:

1. "Number One" – 3:51 (+30)
2. "Ouch" – 4:02
3. "Number One" – 6:15 (Happy Valley Ranch Mix)
4. "Foghorn" – 3:06
5. "Foghorn" (Video)