'74–'75

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"'74–'75"
Single cover
Single by the Connells
from the album Ring
B-side"New Boy"
Released1993
RecordedMarch 1993
StudioDreamland (Bearsville, New York)
GenreRock[1]
Length4:36
LabelAlternation
Songwriter(s)Mike Connell
Producer(s)
Audio
"'74–'75" on YouTube

"'74–'75" is a song by American band the Connells from their fifth studio album, Ring (1993). The acoustic ballad was released by Alternation label as the album's third single in 1993, but it did not chart in the United States.[2] It would later become a European hit for the band in 1995, reaching the top 10 in a total of 11 European countries and peaking at No. 1 in Norway and Sweden. It also charted within the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart on two occasions. Since the Connells never had another hit, they are widely seen as a one-hit wonder.[3]

In the song, singer Mike Connell nostalgically reflects on the passing of time and how people he used to know have changed now. The music video, directed by Mark Pellington, features students from Needham B. Broughton High School's Class of 1975 and compares the photographs from their yearbook, with how they look and have aged since then.[4]

Background[edit]

The song is built around an Am-C-G-Am chord progression. Mike Connell said it "was pretty much just another failed relationship song" that took influence from older bands such as the Byrds and Big Star to more contemporary artists including Echo & the Bunnymen, R.E.M., the Replacements and Teenage Fanclub. Connell was living in a one-bedroom apartment in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina when he began writing the song in early 1991, and he struggled for months to finish the lyrics. Connell remained grateful that the record label did not attempt to influence his writing, as "at the height of the grunge era, 1993, they sure as hell would not have suggested that we come up with an acoustic-based, mid-tempo snoozer."[5]

The song reached Europe two years later when A&R representatives from the Intercord label requested to issue the album Ring in Germany.[5] Connell expected Ring to sell a few thousand copies at most, but the surprise success of "'74-'75" propelled it to the 45th-best selling album of Germany in 1995. Decades after its success, Connell remained confused about how the song became so popular. "I think the tune is catchy enough, but it’s really kind of a snoozer," he said.[6] Lead vocalist Doug MacMillan said, "I wouldn't have released that song as a single either" but compared the song's melancholic emotional tone to that of Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper".[7]

Critical reception[edit]

In his weekly UK chart commentary in Dotmusic, James Masterton described "'74–'75" as a "gently strummed song".[8] A reviewer from Music Week rated it three out of five, adding, "Commercially alternative with a capital C, this laid-back, rootsy, countrified single drifts through the ears pretty agreeably. Expect a positive response from nostalgic radio programmers."[9] Rob Ross of Popdose called it "emotionally-charged and poignant."[10] Michael Hann of The Guardian said the song was a "masterful piece of mass market soft-pop songwriting."[4] John Robinson from NME declared it as "an already near-classic AOR swoon which finds the redoubtable Peele, his quaintly named chums Steve Potak, Doug, George, and the brothers Connell sifting through their high school graduation year books and checking the sideburns. And — sniff, parp — haven't we all changed?"[11] American magazine Trouser Press described it as "so sweet [it] borders on cloying".[12]

Chart performance[edit]

"'74–'75" became a hit in Europe in 1995, particularly in Sweden and Norway, where it topped the singles charts.[13][14] In Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, and Switzerland, it reached the top five.[15][16][17] In Germany, the song peaked at No. 7 and remained on the chart for 28 weeks.[18][19] The single also reached the top 10 in Austria, Ireland, and the Netherlands.[20][21][22] "'74–'75" was the band's only top-20 hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at No. 14 in August 1995. In March 1996, the single re-appeared on the UK Singles Chart at No. 21.[23] The song ended 1995 as Europe's 23rd-best-performing song, climbing to No. 8 on the Eurochart Hot 100.[24][16] Following the songs's success, the Connells embarked on a European tour with Def Leppard.[25]

Music video[edit]

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Mark Pellington. It was shot at Needham B. Broughton High School in the band's hometown Raleigh, North Carolina in 1993, and features members of the Class of 1975, juxtaposing yearbook pictures with footage of the same people as they appeared in 1993. On November 14, 2015, to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1974–1975 class, a remixed video of the song was released, showing the class members as they looked 22 years after the original video was released.[26]

Formats and track listings[edit]

A. "'74–'75" – 4:36
B. "New Boy" (live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta, GA) – 4:44
  • French CD single[27]
  1. "'74–'75" (album version) – 4:36
  2. "Logan Street" – 3:39
  1. "'74–'75" (album version) – 4:36
  2. "Logan Street" – 3:39
  3. "Fun & Games" (live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta, GA) – 3:07
  4. "New Boy" (live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta, GA) – 4:44
  • UK cassette single[29]
  1. "'74–'75" – 4:36
  2. "New Boy" (live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta, GA) – 4:44

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits are lifted from the European maxi-CD single and the Ring album booklet.[28][30]

Studios

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[49] Gold 250,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[50] Platinum  
Sweden (GLF)[51] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Silver 200,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Influence[edit]

Fran Healy of Scottish band Travis has said that he wrote "Writing to Reach You" while listening to "'74–'75" on the radio.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Connells". ondarock.it (in Italian).
  2. ^ a b Damas, Jason. "The Connells – Ring". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "'74-'75 - The Connells" (in Dutch). NPO Radio 2. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Hann, Michael (June 20, 2012). "Old music: The Connells – '74-'75". The Guardian. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Haskell, Duncan (September 2, 2023). "How I wrote 74-'75' by The Connells". Songwriting Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  6. ^ "'It's not easy' being The Connells | The North State Journal". nsjonline.com. June 6, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "The Connells Doug MacMillan eonmusic Interview August 2023". eonmusic: music for life. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Masterton, James (August 6, 1995). "Week Ending August 12th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  9. ^ "Reviews > Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 8, 1995. p. 10. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Ross, Rob (September 13, 2016). "Album Review: The Connells, "Stone Cold Yesterday – The Best of the Connells"". Popdose. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  11. ^ Robinson, John (September 9, 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 50. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  12. ^ Levine, Robert; Schinder, Scott. "Connells". Trouser Press. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "The Connells – '74-'75". VG-lista. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  14. ^ a b "The Connells – '74-'75". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  15. ^ a b "The Connells – '74-'75" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 24. June 17, 1995. p. 47. ISSN 0006-2510.
  17. ^ a b "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (5.8. '95 – 11.8. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 4, 1995. p. 44. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  18. ^ a b "The Connells – '74-'75" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  19. ^ "Die erfolgreichsten One Hit Wonder". RPR1 (in German). October 8, 2018. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d "The Connells – '74-'75" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  21. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 74 - 75". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  22. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  23. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  24. ^ a b "1995 in Review – Year End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1995" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 51/52. December 23, 1995. p. 14. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  25. ^ Gustafsson, Fredrik (May 30, 2015). "20 years since The Connells reached the top with '74-'75". WelcheMusic. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  26. ^ Menconi, David (November 14, 2015). "The Connells' ' '74-'75' brings back the cast of the original video". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  27. ^ The Connells (1994). "'74-'75" (French CD single liner notes). EMI France. 472382 2.
  28. ^ a b The Connells (1994). "'74-'75" (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Alternation. INT 825.427.
  29. ^ The Connells (1994). "'74-'75" (UK cassette single sleeve). London Records. LONCS 369.
  30. ^ The Connells (1993). Ring (US CD album booklet). TVT Records. TVT 2590-2.
  31. ^ "The Connells – '74-'75" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  32. ^ "The Connells – '74-'75" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  33. ^ "The Connells – '74-'75" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  34. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 21/1995" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 20. May 27, 1995. p. 43. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  35. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  36. ^ "The Connells – '74-'75". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  38. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  39. ^ "Jahreshitparade 1995" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  40. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1995" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  41. ^ "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  42. ^ "Classement Singles – année 1995". Disque en France (in French). Archived from the original on March 7, 2012.
  43. ^ "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1995" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  44. ^ "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1996. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  45. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  47. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 1995" (in Swedish). Topplistan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  48. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  49. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Connells; '74 - 75')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  50. ^ "The Single: '74-'75". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 38. September 23, 1995. p. 4. ISSN 0006-2510.
  51. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011.
  52. ^ "British single certifications – Connells – '74-'75". British Phonographic Industry.
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