By Brad Gallagher:
As it is true that different people hold different meanings for the term “One Hit Wonder”, it is a term that refers to a unique situation in the world of rock and roll music. Some would say that in order for a song to be considered a one hit wonder it would need to be the only song by a specific artist or group that ranked in the top 100 on the Billboard charts. Others hold out that the song would need to be the artist’s only top 40 Billboard hit. While still others say that it has nothing at all to do with the charts, and is simply defined by popularity. These folks would consider a one hit wonder to be a song that the artist became famous for, charts or no charts, as long as it was the only one of their songs that society remembers years later.
Probably one of the most well known one hit wonders was the 1969 hit, “Spirit In The Sky” by Norman Greenbaum. Even though this song reached #3 on the Billboard charts, I can’t even think of any other song that he sang. Or, how about the 1973 hit “Stuck In The Middle With You” by Steelers Wheel. It hit #13 on the Billboard charts, and even though lead singer Gerry Rafferty went on to have a very successful solo career, it was the only hit by Steelers Wheel. And of course, who can forget Tommy Tutone’s 1981 hit 867-5309/Jenny, which reached #4 on the Billboard charts.
But today I want to talk about a one hit wonder from 1974 which is often totally misinterpreted.
As The Story Goes:
Back in late 1972 in Sheffield England, Paul Carrack, Alan “Bam” King, Terry “Tex” Comer, Phil Harris, and Steve Witherington joined forces under the name “Ace Flash and the Dynamos”. Of course that name did not last very long and was soon shortened to just “Ace”. They were very popular in the local English pubs playing their unique blend of pop and funk, but didn’t really shine when it came to the record industry. And even though all of the members of Ace came from other professional rock bands, they couldn’t quite come up with a hit until they released “How Long” on their album “Five-A-Side”.
As I mentioned earlier, the song “How Long” has frequently been misinterpreted over the years. Most listeners appear to believe that composer and lead singer, Paul Carrack, was singing about a lover who was caught being unfaithful in their relationship. After all, the lyrics include “How long has this been going on”, and “But I can’t help but have my suspicions ‘Cause I ain’t quite as dumb as I seem”, and also “Oh, you said you was never intending To break up our scene this way”. And not only the listeners thought it was about an unfaithful lover, but also movie producers. The song “How Long” was used in my favorite movie of all time, “Invincible” in 2006. Also in the movie “The Brothers Solomon” in 2007, and again in “Stand Up Guys” in 2013. Always in the context of an cheating lover.
But, in actuality, Carrack wrote these lyrics after he found out that his bass player, Terry “Tex” Comer, had been moonlighting with other bands. Tex had been secretly playing with both “The Sutherland Brothers” and “Quiver”. And ironically, neither of these groups who he was moonlighting with had a hit until they joined together as “The Sutherland Brothers And Quiver” and recorded the one hit wonder “You Got Me Anyway” which peaked at #48 on the Billboard Charts in 1973.
So, for all these years rock fans around the world have assumed that the song “How Long” was a song about a cheating lover, when in fact it was about a bass player who was just trying to make a few extra bucks after hours. “How Long” peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts in 1975, and the album “Five-A-Side” reached #11 on the Billboard album charts. Not bad for a one hit wonder.
So now you can share this new found knowledge at the next party you attend. And then come back and see me really soon right here on As The Story Goes.
Check out the How Long Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_GMMLULXw
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AS THE STORY GOES 