#106 How Long – Ace (1975)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_GMMLULXw

 

Have voice will travel.

 

This may not be the actual motto of Paul Carrack, who’s probably my favorite English rock/blue-eyed soul singer, but it should be. Carrack has had relatively modest success as a solo act, although “Don’t Shed A Tear” did reach #9 in 1988. He’s much better known for his work in various groups, such as Squeeze (“Tempted”) and particularly Mike + The Mechanics (“Silent Running”, “The Living Years”).

 

“How Long” was Carrack’s first hit, when he was the lead singer and keyboard player for the band Ace. He also wrote the song, which according to him was actually about another band trying to “poach” Ace’s bass player. (They were unsuccessful, which may or may not have been because of the song.) Carrack’s resumé as a songwriter isn’t as extensive as his work as a performer, but he was the primary songwriter for Ace, wrote many of the songs he performed as a solo act, and co-wrote the Eagles’ “Love Will Keep Us Alive”.