Ace – Sniffin’ About

Most people know Ace for How Long. It’s a great song and deserves its place on classic rock radio. But every now and then, I like to dig a little deeper, because sometimes you will find hidden treasures. This one was one of those discoveries for me. The first time I heard it, I couldn’t believe this was the same band. It has a tougher edge, a great groove, and more hooks than a pirate’s convention.

Ace formed in Sheffield, England, in the early 1970s and quickly became part of Britain’s growing pub rock scene. The band featured the soulful voice and keyboards of Paul Carrack, along with guitarist Alan “Bam” King, bassist Terry Comer, and drummer Fran Byrne. Unlike many of the louder bands of the day, Ace relied on tight musicianship and tasteful playing. They fit perfectly into the pub rock movement, where good songs mattered more than flashy stage shows.

This song appeared on the band’s debut album, Five-a-Side, released in 1974. This was the B side to How Long. While How Long became a worldwide hit, this track shows another side of Ace. The rhythm section stays locked in, and Paul Carrack delivers an effortless vocal like he always does. Like so many pub rock recordings, it’s straight ahead. It simply lets the band do what they did best: play together. That’s probably why it still sounds so fresh today.

This reminds me not to stop with the hit singles. So many great bands have albums full of songs that never made the radio but are every bit as rewarding. Ace is one of those bands. It’s another reminder that some of the best discoveries are hiding just below the surface. The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard Album Charts and #16 in Canada in 1974.

Sniffin’ About

Takin’ it easy, takin’ our time, sniffin’ about
We got a notion, time gonna tell and it’ll work out
It goes
There ain’t no sly seducer fooling me
And nothing you can do, Sir, oh no

I learned me a lesson when I was a boy
Just sniffin’ about
You get a connection, selected perfection
It’ll work out

It goes
There ain’t no sly seducer fooling me
Ain’t nothing you can do, Sir, anyway

Sniffin’ about
Checking it out
Sniffin’ about
Checking it out

Well, I learned me a lesson when I was a boy
Sniffin’ about
You get a connection, selected perfection
It’ll work out

It goes
There ain’t no sly seducer fooling me
Ain’t nothing you can do, Sir, anyway

Sniffin’ about
Checking it out
Sniffin’ about
Checking it out

Alright
Alright
(Sniffin’ about)
Alright, I
(Sniffin’ about)
Alright, I was sniffin’
Just sniffin’, sniffin’ about
Just sniffin’ about
I was just sniffin’, sniffin’ about
Checking it out
Sniffin’ about
Oh, I was sniffin’ about
I was checking, checking it out
Yeah, I was was sniffin’ about

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

35 thoughts on “Ace – Sniffin’ About”

  2. Pingback: Ace – Sniffin’ About – MobsterTiger

  3. ‘more hooks than a pirate’s convention’? LOL. Maybe just a bit of an exag-arrrr-ation! Ok song though, I’d never heard anything else by them besides ‘How Long’

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  4. Nice. I had the “How Long” single, but I don’t remember this, and I would always play the B-side of my 45s. Thanks for pointing it out.

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    2. This is new to me. And I LOVE “How Long.” The only other song I remember from Ace was “Rock n Roll Runaway,” which fits nicely in the groove.

      Great stuff, Max. And yes, a pub rock weekend to be sure!!!

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  5. I liked this song, Max and they sounded like a mix of Poco and Marshal Tucker to me. I read that Ace struggled to follow up on their hit single ‘How Long’ and experienced several lineup changes, before fizzling out and going their separate ways.

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  6. More hooks than a pirate’s convention? Great line, Max! 😆And a cool Ace song I hadn’t known, since I’m afraid I fell into the-only-know “How Long” department, a song I’ve always loved. Well, I’m glad I’ve now heard a great second track. Frankly, after just one listen, I think it’s on par with “How Long.” The harmony singing is just as sweet. Plus, I dig that honky tonk vibe! 😎

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      5. Clapton has always had a great group of muisicians behind him. Andy Fairweather Lowe lives on in my heart and memory’s juke box for his great “La Booga Rooga.” On one lp, Ry Cooder played with the band, and I believe there was a tour.

        Unfortunately, none of this was enough to get me to go see the headliner. Just not a big fan.

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  9. Really good stuff. Never listened to the album. I join the consensus…Paul Carrack…Ace…Squeeze…Mike and the Mechanics…solo artist or sideman…he’s simply a superb musician, singer and songwriter.

    By the way…Rod Stewart does a really good cover of How Long on his album Tonight I’m Yours.

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