Ace: How Long

Day four of our Paul Carrack feature provides a look at a song written and sung by Carrack in the band Ace. In 2009, the song was used in a Breyer’s Ice Cream commercial. From the album “Five-a-Side,” “How Long?” peaked at #3 in both the U.S. and Canada in 1975.

Most believe that the song was written about a cheating spouse or girlfriend; however, Carrack was inspired to write the tune when he learned about Ace’s bass player Terry “Tex” Comer’s cheating on the band by playing with other musicians.

Breyers’ Commercial

When this commercial originally aired, my wife accused me of being like the husband in this commercial. Hmmm. Not me. I would never get caught sneaking ice cream.

Paul Carrack’s 1996 Remake

In 1996, Carrack rerecorded the song and it was released as a single in the U.K. The remake was a top 40 hit at #32; however, it didn’t eclipse the original by Ace which peaked in Britain at #20.