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'74 - '75

"'74–'75"
The Connells - '74 - '75 album cover.jpg
Single cover
Single by the Connells
from the album Ring
B-side"New Boy"
Released1993
StudioDreamland Studios, Bearsville, New York
Length4:36
LabelAlternation
Songwriter(s)Mike Connell
Producer(s)
  • Mike Connell
  • David Connell
  • Lou Giordano
  • Tim Harper
  • George Huntley
  • Doug MacMillan
  • Steve Potak
  • Peele Wimberley
Audio
"'74-'75" on YouTube

"'74–'75" is an acoustic ballad[1] released by American band the Connells from their fifth studio album, Ring. The song was released as the third single from the album in 1993, but it did not chart in the United States. It would later become a European hit for the band in 1995, peaking atop the Norwegian and Swedish singles charts and reaching the top five in the Flanders region of Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, and Switzerland.

In the song the singer 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.[2] Since the Connells never had a hit again, they are widely seen as a one-hit wonder.[3]

Critical reception[]

American magazine Trouser Press described "'74-'75" as "so sweet [it] borders on cloying".[4] Rob Ross of Popdose called the song "emotionally-charged and poignant".[5]

Chart performance[]

"'74-'75" became a big hit in Europe in 1995, particularly in Sweden and Norway, where it topped the singles charts,[6][7] as well as in Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, and Switzerland, reaching the top 5 in these regions.[8][9][10] It ended 1995 as Europe's 23rd-best-performing song,[11] climbing to No. 8 on the Eurochart Hot 100.[9] In addition, it was their only top-20 hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at No. 14 in August 1995,[12] and it also became a success in Germany, where it peaked at No. 7 and remained on the airplay charts for 57 weeks.[13][14] In March 1996, the single re-appeared on the UK Singles Chart at No. 21.[15] Following the songs's success, the Connells embarked on a European tour with Def Leppard.[16]

Music video[]

The accompanying music video 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 look 22 years after the original video was released.[17]

Formats and track listings[]

7-inch single[18]

A. "'74–'75" – 4:36
B. "New Boy" (live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta, GA) – 4:44

French CD single[19]

  1. "'74–'75" (album version) – 4:36
  2. "Logan Street" – 3:39

CD maxi[18]

  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[20]

  1. "'74–'75" – 4:36
  2. "New Boy" (live at the Purple Dragon Studio in Atlanta, GA) – 4:44

Charts and certifications[]

Influence[]

Fran Healy of Scottish band Travis said that he wrote "Writing to Reach You" while listening to "'74–'75" on the radio.[1]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Damas, Jason. "The Connells – Ring". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. ^ Hann, Michael (June 20, 2012). "Old music: The Connells – '74-'75". The Guardian. Retrieved January 3, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  3. ^ "'74-'75 - The Connells" (in Dutch). NPO Radio 2. Retrieved January 3, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  4. ^ Levine, Robert; Schinder, Scott. "Connells". Trouser Press. Retrieved August 25, 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. ^ Ross, Rob (September 13, 2016). "Album Review: The Connells, "Stone Cold Yesterday – The Best of the Connells"". Popdose. Retrieved August 25, 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  6. ^ a b "Norwegiancharts.com – The Connells – '74-'75". VG-lista. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Swedishcharts.com – The Connells – '74-'75". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Ultratop.be – The Connells – '74-'75" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 107 no. 24. June 17, 1995. p. 47. ISSN 0006-2510.
  10. ^ 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. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  11. ^ 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. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  12. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – The Connells – '74-'75" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  14. ^ "Die erfolgreichsten One Hit Wonder". RPR1 (in German). October 8, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  15. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  16. ^ Gustafsson, Fredrik (May 30, 2015). "20 years since The Connells reached the top with '74-'75". WelcheMusic. Retrieved August 25, 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  17. ^ Menconi, David (November 14, 2015). "The Connells' ' '74-'75' brings back the cast of the original video". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 29, 2016. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  18. ^ a b c "Austriancharts.at – The Connells – '74-'75" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  19. ^ "'74-'75" – French CD single (Liner notes). The Connells. EMI France. 1994. 472382 2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ "'74-'75" – UK cassette single (Cassette sleeve). The Connells. London Records. 1994. LONCS 369.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Connells – '74-'75" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  22. ^ "Lescharts.com – The Connells – '74-'75" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  23. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 74 - 75". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  24. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  25. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Connells – '74-'75" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  27. ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Connells – '74-'75". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  29. ^ "Jahreshitparade 1995" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  30. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1995" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  31. ^ "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  32. ^ "Classement Singles – année 1995". Disque en France (in French). Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  33. ^ "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1995" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 13, 2019. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  34. ^ "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1996. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  35. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 10, 2014. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  36. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  37. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 1995" (in Swedish). Topplistan. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2019. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  38. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  39. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Connells; '74 - 75')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  40. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  41. ^ "British single certifications – Connells – '74-'75". British Phonographic Industry.