'74–'75

"'74–'75" is a single 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. The song's music video, directed by Mark Pellington, features Needham B. Broughton High School's Class of 1975.

"'74–'75"
Single cover
Single by The Connells
from the album Ring
B-side	"New Boy"
Released	1993
Studio	Dreamland Studios, Bearsville, New York
Length	4:36
Label	Alternation
Songwriter(s)	Mike Connell
Producer(s)	Mike Connell David Connell Lou Giordano Tim Harper George Huntley Doug MacMillan Steve Potak Peele Wimberley

Chart performance

While never becoming a success in the band's native United States or Canada, "'74-'75" became a big hit in Europe in 1995, particularly in Sweden and Norway, where it topped the singles charts,[1][2] as well as in Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, and Switzerland, reaching the top 5 in these regions.[3][4][5] It ended 1995 as Europe's 23rd-best-performing song,[6] climbing to No. 8 on the Eurochart Hot 100.[4] In addition, it was their only top-20 hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at No. 14 in August 1995,[7] and it also became a success in Germany, where it peaked at No. 7 and remained on the airplay charts for 57 weeks.[8][9] In March 1996, the single re-appeared on the UK Singles Chart at No. 21.[10]

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.[11]

Formats and track listings

7-inch single

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

CD single

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

CD maxi

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

Cassette

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

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1995) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[13] 9 Denmark (IFPI)[4] 5 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4] 8 France (SNEP)[14] 4 Germany (Official German Charts)[8] 7 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[5] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 10 Norway (VG-lista)[1] 1 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[18] 11 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[2] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 3 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[7] 14 Chart (1996) Peak position Scotland (Official Charts Company)[20] 16 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[10] 21

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Rank Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 35 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 23 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[23] 44 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] 23 France (SNEP)[24] 33 Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 23 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[26] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 57 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 97 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 10 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 14 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Germany (BVMI)[31] Gold 250,000^^ Sweden (GLF)[32] Gold 25,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Silver 200,000 ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Influence

Fran Healy of Scottish band Travis said that he wrote "Writing to Reach You" while listening to "'74–'75" on the radio.[34]

See also

• List of number-one songs in Norway
• List of number-one singles and albums in Sweden

References

1. "Norwegiancharts.com – The Connells – '74-'75". VG-lista. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
2. "Swedishcharts.com – The Connells – '74-'75". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
3. "Ultratop.be – The Connells – '74-'75" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
4. "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 107 no. 24. June 17, 1995. p. 47. ISSN 0006-2510.
5. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (5.8. '95 – 11.8. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 4, 1995. p. 44. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
6. "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.
7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
8. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Connells – '74-'75". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
9. "Die erfolgreichsten One Hit Wonder". RPR1 (in German). October 8, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
11. Menconi, David (November 14, 2015). "The Connells' ' '74-'75' brings back the cast of the original video". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
12. "Austriancharts.at – The Connells – '74-'75" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
13. "Ultratop.be – The Connells – '74-'75" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
14. "Lescharts.com – The Connells – '74-'75" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 74 - 75". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved June 10, 2014.
17. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Connells – '74-'75" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
19. "Swisscharts.com – The Connells – '74-'75". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
21. "Jahreshitparade 1995" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
22. "Jaaroverzichten 1995" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
23. "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
24. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1995" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
25. "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1995" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
26. "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1996. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
28. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
29. "Årslista Singlar, 1995" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
30. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
31. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Connells; '74 - 75')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
32. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
33. "British single certifications – Connells – '74-'75". British Phonographic Industry.
34. Damas, Jason. "The Connells – Ring". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2020.