"How Long"
1979 US reissue by MCA Records
Single by Ace
from the album Five-A-Side
B-side	"Sniffin' About"
Released	March 1975 (U.S.)
Recorded	1974
Studio	Rockfield Studios, Rockfield, Monmouthshire
Genre	Soft rock[1][2] pub rock[3]
Length	3:21 (Album version) 3:09 (Single version)
Label	Anchor
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
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

• Phil Harris - lead guitar, vocals
• Alan "Bam" King - rhythm guitar, vocals
• Paul Carrack - organ, vocals, piano, electric piano
• Terry "Tex" Comer - bass
• Fran Byrne - drums, percussion

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).^{[citation needed]}
• 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.