"'74–'75" is a song by American band the Connells from their fifth studio album, Ring (1993). The acoustic ballad was released as the album's third single in 1993, but it did not chart in the United States.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3]
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."[4] The song reached Europe two years later when A&R representatives from the Intercord label requested to issue the album Ring in Germany.[4]
Critical receptionedit
James Masterton described "'74–'75" as a "gently strummed song" in his weekly UK chart commentary in Dotmusic.[5] 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."[6] Rob Ross of Popdose called it "emotionally-charged and poignant."[7] Michael Hamm of The Guardian said the song was a "masterful piece of mass market soft-pop songwriting."[3] American magazine Trouser Press described it as "so sweet [it] borders on cloying".[8]
Chart performanceedit
"'74–'75" became a hit in Europe in 1995, particularly in Sweden and Norway, where it topped the singles charts.[9][10] In Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, and Switzerland, it reached the top five.[11][12][13] In Germany, the song peaked at No. 7 and remained on the chart for 28 weeks.[14][15] The single also reached the top 10 in Austria, Ireland, and the Netherlands.[16][17][18] "'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.[19] The song ended 1995 as Europe's 23rd-best-performing song, climbing to No. 8 on the Eurochart Hot 100.[20][12] Following the songs's success, the Connells embarked on a European tour with Def Leppard.[21]
Music videoedit
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.[22]
^ ab"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.
^Gustafsson, Fredrik (May 30, 2015). "20 years since The Connells reached the top with '74-'75". WelcheMusic. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
^Menconi, David (November 14, 2015). "The Connells' ' '74-'75' brings back the cast of the original video". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
song, american, band, connells, from, their, fifth, studio, album, ring, 1993, acoustic, ballad, released, album, third, single, 1993, chart, united, states, would, later, become, european, band, 1995, reaching, total, european, countries, peaking, norway, swe. 74 75 is a song by American band the Connells from their fifth studio album Ring 1993 The acoustic ballad was released as the album s third single in 1993 but it did not chart in the United States 1 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 2 74 75 Single coverSingle by the Connellsfrom the album RingB side New Boy Released1993RecordedMarch 1993StudioDreamland Bearsville New York Length4 36LabelAlternationSongwriter s Mike ConnellProducer s The Connells Lou GiordanoAudio 74 75 on YouTubeIn 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 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Critical reception 3 Chart performance 4 Music video 5 Formats and track listings 6 Credits and personnel 7 Charts 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Year end charts 8 Certifications 9 Influence 10 See also 11 ReferencesBackground editThe 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 amp 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 4 The song reached Europe two years later when A amp R representatives from the Intercord label requested to issue the album Ring in Germany 4 Critical reception editJames Masterton described 74 75 as a gently strummed song in his weekly UK chart commentary in Dotmusic 5 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 6 Rob Ross of Popdose called it emotionally charged and poignant 7 Michael Hamm of The Guardian said the song was a masterful piece of mass market soft pop songwriting 3 American magazine Trouser Press described it as so sweet it borders on cloying 8 Chart performance edit 74 75 became a hit in Europe in 1995 particularly in Sweden and Norway where it topped the singles charts 9 10 In Belgium Denmark France Iceland and Switzerland it reached the top five 11 12 13 In Germany the song peaked at No 7 and remained on the chart for 28 weeks 14 15 The single also reached the top 10 in Austria Ireland and the Netherlands 16 17 18 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 19 The song ended 1995 as Europe s 23rd best performing song climbing to No 8 on the Eurochart Hot 100 20 12 Following the songs s success the Connells embarked on a European tour with Def Leppard 21 Music video editThe 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 22 Formats and track listings edit7 inch single 16 A 74 75 4 36 B New Boy live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta GA 4 44French CD single 23 74 75 album version 4 36 Logan Street 3 39European maxi CD single 24 16 74 75 album version 4 36 Logan Street 3 39 Fun amp Games live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta GA 3 07 New Boy live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta GA 4 44UK cassette single 25 74 75 4 36 New Boy live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta GA 4 44Credits and personnel editCredits are lifted from the European maxi CD single and the Ring album booklet 24 26 Studios Recorded in March 1993 at Dreamland Studios Bearsville New York Mixed in April 1993 at Carriage House Studios Stamford Connecticut Mastered at Sterling Sound New York City The Connells Mike Connell music words vocals guitar David Connell bass George Huntley vocals guitar mandolin Doug MacMillan vocals guitar Peele Wimberley drums percussion Steve Potak piano organ keyboards The Connells production Recording and production Lou Giordano production mixing David Cook engineeringCharts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1995 PeakpositionAustria O3 Austria Top 40 16 6Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 11 2Belgium Ultratop 50 Wallonia 27 9Denmark IFPI 12 5Europe Eurochart Hot 100 12 8France SNEP 28 4Germany Official German Charts 14 7Iceland Islenski Listinn Topp 40 13 2Ireland IRMA 17 6Netherlands Dutch Top 40 18 8Netherlands Single Top 100 29 10Norway VG lista 9 1Scotland OCC 30 11Sweden Sverigetopplistan 10 1Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 31 3UK Singles OCC 32 14Chart 1996 PeakpositionScotland OCC 33 16UK Singles OCC 19 21 Year end charts edit Chart 1995 RankAustria O3 Austria Top 40 34 35Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 35 23Belgium Ultratop 50 Wallonia 36 44Europe Eurochart Hot 100 20 23France SNEP 37 33Germany Official German Charts 38 23Iceland Islenski Listinn Topp 40 39 4Netherlands Dutch Top 40 40 57Netherlands Single Top 100 41 97Sweden Sverigetopplistan 42 10Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 43 14Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesGermany BVMI 44 Gold 250 000 Norway IFPI Norway 45 Platinum Sweden GLF 46 Gold 25 000 United Kingdom BPI 47 Silver 200 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Sales streaming figures based on certification alone Influence editFran Healy of Scottish band Travis has said that he wrote Writing to Reach You while listening to 74 75 on the radio 1 See also editList of number one songs in Norway List of number one singles and albums in SwedenReferences edit a b Damas Jason The Connells Ring AllMusic Retrieved March 10 2020 74 75 The Connells in Dutch NPO Radio 2 Retrieved January 3 2021 a b Hann Michael June 20 2012 Old music The Connells 74 75 The Guardian Retrieved January 3 2021 a b Haskell Duncan September 2 2023 How I wrote 74 75 by The Connells Songwriting Magazine Retrieved October 16 2023 Masterton James August 6 1995 Week Ending August 12th 1995 Chart Watch UK Retrieved September 22 2021 Reviews gt Singles PDF Music Week July 8 1995 p 10 Retrieved May 10 2021 Ross Rob September 13 2016 Album Review The Connells Stone Cold Yesterday The Best of the Connells Popdose Retrieved August 25 2020 Levine Robert Schinder Scott Connells Trouser Press Retrieved August 25 2020 a b The Connells 74 75 VG lista Retrieved June 10 2014 a b The Connells 74 75 Singles Top 100 Retrieved June 10 2014 a b The Connells 74 75 in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved June 10 2014 a b c d Hits of the World Billboard Vol 107 no 24 June 17 1995 p 47 ISSN 0006 2510 a b Islenski Listinn Topp 40 5 8 95 11 8 95 Dagbladid Visir in Icelandic August 4 1995 p 44 Retrieved October 1 2019 a b The Connells 74 75 in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved June 10 2014 Die erfolgreichsten One Hit Wonder RPR1 in German October 8 2018 Archived from the original on March 26 2020 Retrieved March 10 2020 a b c d The Connells 74 75 in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved June 10 2014 a b The Irish Charts Search Results 74 75 Irish Singles Chart Retrieved June 10 2014 a b Nederlandse Top 40 week 22 1995 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved June 10 2014 a b Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved June 10 2014 a b 1995 in Review Year End Sales Charts Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1995 PDF Music amp Media Vol 12 no 51 52 December 23 1995 p 14 Retrieved February 2 2020 Gustafsson Fredrik May 30 2015 20 years since The Connells reached the top with 74 75 WelcheMusic Retrieved August 25 2020 Menconi David November 14 2015 The Connells 74 75 brings back the cast of the original video The News amp Observer Retrieved January 29 2016 The Connells 1994 74 75 French CD single liner notes EMI France 472382 2 a b The Connells 1994 74 75 European maxi CD single liner notes Alternation INT 825 427 The Connells 1994 74 75 UK cassette single sleeve London Records LONCS 369 The Connells 1993 Ring US CD album booklet TVT Records TVT 2590 2 The Connells 74 75 in French Ultratop 50 Retrieved June 10 2014 The Connells 74 75 in French Les classement single Retrieved June 10 2014 The Connells 74 75 in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved June 10 2014 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved May 13 2019 The Connells 74 75 Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved June 10 2014 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved June 10 2014 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved May 13 2019 Jahreshitparade 1995 in German Austriancharts at Hung Medien Retrieved June 10 2014 Jaaroverzichten 1995 in Dutch Ultratop Hung Medien Retrieved June 10 2014 Rapports annuels 1995 in French Ultratop Hung Medien Retrieved June 10 2014 Classement Singles annee 1995 Disque en France in French Archived from the original on March 7 2012 Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 1995 in German GfK Entertainment Retrieved May 13 2019 Arslistinn 1995 Dagbladid Visir in Icelandic January 2 1996 p 25 Retrieved May 30 2020 Top 100 Jaaroverzicht van 1995 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved June 10 2014 Jaaroverzichten Single 1995 in Dutch Single Top 100 Hung Medien Retrieved June 10 2014 Arslista Singlar Ar 1995 in Swedish Topplistan Archived from the original on February 16 2016 Retrieved July 2 2019 Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995 in German Hitparade ch Hung Medien Retrieved June 10 2014 Gold Platin Datenbank The Connells 74 75 in German Bundesverband Musikindustrie The Single 74 75 Billboard Vol 107 no 38 September 23 1995 p 4 ISSN 0006 2510 Guld och Platinacertifikat Ar 1987 1998 PDF in Swedish IFPI Sweden Archived from the original PDF on May 17 2011 British single certifications Connells 74 75 British Phonographic Industry Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2774 2775 amp oldid 1180395136, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
