How Long (Ace song)
| "How Long" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Sniffin' About" |
"How Long" is a 1974 song by the British group Ace from their album Five-A-Side. It reached No. 3 in the US and Canadian charts, and No. 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[3]
Although widely interpreted as being about adultery, the song was in fact composed by lead singer Paul Carrack upon discovering that bassist Terry Comer had been secretly working with the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver.[4] Comer returned to Ace in time to play on the song.[5]
The guitar solo is by Alan "Bam" King.[6]
Chart history
Weekly charts
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia[7] | 63 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] | 3 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] | 11 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[10] | 20 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 3 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary[12] | 24 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[13] | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1975) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada [14] | 42 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 57 |
| US Cash Box [16] | 47 |
Covers
Charting versions
- Lipps Inc. recorded a cover in 1981 that reached No. 4 on the U.S. dance chart, No. 29 on the U.S. soul singles chart, and No. 42 in Canada.[17]
- Rod Stewart, also in 1981, recorded a version that charted in the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100.[18] It was included on his album Tonight I'm Yours.[19]
- In 1993 British reggae group Aswad and singer Yazz recorded a cover of the song which reached No. 31 in the UK Singles Chart,[20] from Yazz's 1994 album One on One.[21]
- Composer and original vocalist Paul Carrack recorded a new version of the song for his 1996 album Blue Views.[22] Carrack's solo version hit #32 on the UK charts.
Other versions
The following artists have also recorded cover versions of "How Long":
- Bobby Womack, on the 1976 album Home Is Where the Heart Is[23]
- Barbara Mandrell recorded a country/disco version on the 1977 album Love's Ups and Downs[24]
- Barbara Dickson, on the 1989 album Coming Alive Again[25]
- Smooth jazz artists Jeff Golub and Brian Auger, on their 2013 album Train Keeps A Rolling, with vocals by Christopher Cross[26]
References
- ^ Thomas, Stephen. "How Long - Ace : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ^ "How Long - Ace |". Toponehitwonders.com. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 13. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Ace | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ "Classic Music Hits from the '50s through Today". Timelife.com. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ Biography by Eugene Chadbourne (18 September 1946). "Alan "Bam" King | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 2 June 2016 suggested (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3969a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Ace – How Long" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Ace: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ ""Ace – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Ace". Billboard.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 12.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 5/31/75". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1975". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ^ Steve Huey. "Lipps, Inc. | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (10 January 1945). "Rod Stewart | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ "Search Help". Google.com. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 613. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Yazz - One On One". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Blue Views - Paul Carrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ Jason Ankeny. "Home Is Where the Heart Is - Bobby Womack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ "Love's Ups and Downs - Barbara Mandrell | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ "Barbara Dickson - Coming Alive Again (CD, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ Thom Jurek (13 August 2013). "Train Keeps a Rolling - Jeff Golub,Brian Auger | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
