Ace (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ace


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = United Kingdom
Genre = Pub rock
Pop
Funk
Years_active = 1972-1977
Label = Anchor Records
ABC Records
Varèse Sarabande
Associated_acts = Squeeze
Warm Dust
Mighty Baby
The Action
Mike + The Mechanics
Alias = Ace Flash and the Dynamos
URL =
Current_members = Paul Carrack
Alan "Bam" King
Fran Byrne
Phil Harris
Terry "Tex" Comer
Steve Witherington
Steve Kirby
Jon Woodhead
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Ace were a British rock music band, who enjoyed moderate success in the 1970s. They are notable for their part in the early career of Paul Carrack, who later became famous as a solo artist, and as a member of several other groups. The band was formed in December 1972 in Sheffield as 'Ace Flash and the Dynamos', but this name was quickly abbreviated to just Ace.cite book
first= Martin C.
last= Strong
year= 2000
title= The Great Rock Discography
edition= 5th
publisher= Mojo Books
location= Edinburgh, Scotland
pages= p. 95
id= ISBN 1-84195-017-3]

Band members

* Paul Carrack (born 22 April 1951, Sheffield, Yorkshire; keyboards, vocals).
* Alan "Bam" King (born 18 September 1946, Kentish Town, London; guitar, vocals).
* Fran Byrne (born 17 March 1948, Dublin, Ireland; drums)
* Phil Harris (born Philip Harris, 18 July 1948, Muswell Hill, London; guitar, vocals)
* Terry "Tex" Comer (born 23 February 1949, Burnley, Lancashire; bass)
* Steve Witherington (born 26 December 1953, Enfield, Middlesex; drums).
* Steve Kirby (born 6 February 1953, Shepherds Bush, London; lead guitarist)

Career

The members were assembled from various other professional bands, and were all competent musicians. Carrack and Comer had previously played with Warm Dust, and King with Mighty Baby, whose antecedents were the 1960s band The Action. Ace were popular on the pub rock circuit. Their music was pop with a funk influence.

Before the recording of their debut album, "Five-A-Side" [ [http://www.superseventies.com/space.html Five-A-Side (an Ace album)] ] , ex-Bees Make Honey drummer Fran Byrne replaced Witherington. The single "How Long?" (a song about one of the members leaving for another group) was taken from this record, and was a significant chart success, achieving a Top 20 place in the UK Singles Chartcite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages= p. 13
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5] , and reaching number three in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its bass introduction was similar to that of "Travelling Song" by Pentangle. Carrack's electric piano was also prominent on the recording. In addition, "How Long" is believed to have been an instrumental influence on Steely Dan as well as shaping the vocal styling of Boz Scaggs.

The band eventually moved to the United States, and replaced Phil Harris with Jon Woodhead in June 1976. They disbanded in July 1977, when most of the remaining members joined Frankie Miller's band.

Carrack has since played in Eric Clapton's band, played with Roxy Music for the "Manifesto" album and tour, joined Squeeze in the early 1980s, and later played with Mike + The Mechanics. He also re-recorded "How Long", as a solo artist, which became a UK Top 40 hit again in 1996.cite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages= p. 95
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5]

Discography

Albums

* "Five-a-side" - 1974 [ [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=7785 Ace: Five-A-Side] ] - U.S. #11
* "Time For Another" - 1975 - U.S. #153
* "No Strings" - 1977
* "Six-a-side" - 1982 (compilation)
* "The Best Of Ace" - 1987 (compilation)
* "The Very Best Of Ace" - 1993 (compilation)
* "The Best Of Ace [Varese] " - 2003 (compilation)

ingles

* "How Long?" - 1974
* "I Ain't Gonna Stand For This" - 1975
* "Rock & Roll Runaway" - 1975
* "No Future In Your Eyes" - 1975
* "You're All That I Need" - 1977
* "Found Out The Hard Way" - 1977

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1970s/1975/Mar25ace/ Peel Sessions - 25 March 1975]