The Connells is an American band from Raleigh, North Carolina. They play a … Read Full Bio ↴The Connells is an American band from Raleigh, North Carolina. They play a guitar-oriented, melodic, power pop style of rock music, with introspective lyrics that reflect the American South.
Guitarist Mike Connell formed the band in 1984, along with his brother David Connell on bass, Doug MacMillan on vocals, and future filmmaker John Schultz on drums. This initial four-person line-up was quickly supplemented by the addition of George Huntley on second guitar, keyboards, and vocals. Around the same time, former Johnny Quest drummer Peele Wimberley replaced Schultz, finalizing the "classic" line-up of the band.
From the beginning of the group, Mike Connell wrote both the music and the lyrics of the majority of the band’s songs, although he was not the band's primary lead singer. Connell’s influences included the 1960's guitar pop of his childhood, including The Byrds and The Beatles; in an early interview, he stated that the first song he wrote as a teenager was titled “Psychedelic Butterfly."
Like Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Connell and Huntley played Rickenbacker guitars for the first several years of the band’s career, creating a jangly, folk-rock sound reminiscent of The Byrds and other Southern U.S. and North Carolina bands of the era, such as the dB's and Let's Active.
A re-recorded version of “Darker Days” provided the title track to the band’s debut album, which was produced by fellow North Carolinian Don Dixon and released in 1985 on Elvis Costello's Demon Records in the UK and the band’s own Black Park Records label in the U.S.
After touring heavily behind Darker Days, the Connells re-entered the studio in 1986 with Dixon and R.E.M. producer Mitch Easter to record their second album, Boylan Heights. The decision to work with Easter continued to perpetuate the comparisons to R.E.M.
Although the band shopped Boylan Heights to various labels, the major record companies, including Columbia Records, which expressed some mild interest, passed on it; the record was ultimately released in 1987 on mid-major TVT Records, which had made its name releasing a series of "Tee Vee Toons" television theme song compilation CDs. TVT would prove to be no commercial match for R.E.M.'s own mid-major label, I.R.S. Records, and over the next decade, The Connells would engage in a series of disputes with the label, on at least one occasion suing, unsuccessfully, to break their recording contract.
Despite the problems with TVT, Boylan Heights was a substantial college radio hit, and The Connells continued to tour relentlessly. During this period, both Connell and Huntley began to move away from their twelve-string Rickenbackers towards six-string Fender and Gibson guitars, leading to a heavier, less folky sound on Fun and Games, the 1989 follow-up album.
Fun and Games was quickly followed in 1990 by One Simple Word, which was recorded in Wales with U.K. producer Hugh Jones.
After a three-year recording hiatus, which included more legal jousting with TVT Records, a rejuvenated Connells released Ring in 1993. While European music fans made Ring a platinum record outside the United States, such high level success in America remained elusive. 1996's Weird Food and Devastation failed to build on the momentum established by its predecessor.
In 1998, the band released Still Life, which marked their final album for TVT. The band released Old School Dropouts on the revived Black Park Records label in 2000. The band recorded the record themselves and promoted it sparingly in the American South.
Peele Wimberley and George Huntley have since left the band. Wimberley briefly played with another band called Parklife, and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue interests in Hollywood and in electronic music. He is currently a member of the Los Angeles band, The Lamps.
Huntley is now selling real estate and working part time at the University of North Carolina music department.
Peele Wimberley was replaced on drums by Steve Ritter; after several years Ritter was soon replaced by Chris Stevenson on drums, and Mike Ayers took George's place on lead guitar. The new lineup recorded the album Old School Dropouts.
In 1993, they released "''74-'75" which remains their most popular song. It is based on experiences of the Class of 1975 in a high school in Raleigh, North Carolina. The video juxtaposed original yearbook pictures with the class members as they appeared at the time. And then in 2015, the producers tracked down the original members once again, and produced a remixed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6l3Lh2cb_g
The last official release of the band was in 2001. They still occasionally perform together, including a reunion concert in 2020.
Guitarist Mike Connell formed the band in 1984, along with his brother David Connell on bass, Doug MacMillan on vocals, and future filmmaker John Schultz on drums. This initial four-person line-up was quickly supplemented by the addition of George Huntley on second guitar, keyboards, and vocals. Around the same time, former Johnny Quest drummer Peele Wimberley replaced Schultz, finalizing the "classic" line-up of the band.
From the beginning of the group, Mike Connell wrote both the music and the lyrics of the majority of the band’s songs, although he was not the band's primary lead singer. Connell’s influences included the 1960's guitar pop of his childhood, including The Byrds and The Beatles; in an early interview, he stated that the first song he wrote as a teenager was titled “Psychedelic Butterfly."
Like Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Connell and Huntley played Rickenbacker guitars for the first several years of the band’s career, creating a jangly, folk-rock sound reminiscent of The Byrds and other Southern U.S. and North Carolina bands of the era, such as the dB's and Let's Active.
A re-recorded version of “Darker Days” provided the title track to the band’s debut album, which was produced by fellow North Carolinian Don Dixon and released in 1985 on Elvis Costello's Demon Records in the UK and the band’s own Black Park Records label in the U.S.
After touring heavily behind Darker Days, the Connells re-entered the studio in 1986 with Dixon and R.E.M. producer Mitch Easter to record their second album, Boylan Heights. The decision to work with Easter continued to perpetuate the comparisons to R.E.M.
Although the band shopped Boylan Heights to various labels, the major record companies, including Columbia Records, which expressed some mild interest, passed on it; the record was ultimately released in 1987 on mid-major TVT Records, which had made its name releasing a series of "Tee Vee Toons" television theme song compilation CDs. TVT would prove to be no commercial match for R.E.M.'s own mid-major label, I.R.S. Records, and over the next decade, The Connells would engage in a series of disputes with the label, on at least one occasion suing, unsuccessfully, to break their recording contract.
Despite the problems with TVT, Boylan Heights was a substantial college radio hit, and The Connells continued to tour relentlessly. During this period, both Connell and Huntley began to move away from their twelve-string Rickenbackers towards six-string Fender and Gibson guitars, leading to a heavier, less folky sound on Fun and Games, the 1989 follow-up album.
Fun and Games was quickly followed in 1990 by One Simple Word, which was recorded in Wales with U.K. producer Hugh Jones.
After a three-year recording hiatus, which included more legal jousting with TVT Records, a rejuvenated Connells released Ring in 1993. While European music fans made Ring a platinum record outside the United States, such high level success in America remained elusive. 1996's Weird Food and Devastation failed to build on the momentum established by its predecessor.
In 1998, the band released Still Life, which marked their final album for TVT. The band released Old School Dropouts on the revived Black Park Records label in 2000. The band recorded the record themselves and promoted it sparingly in the American South.
Peele Wimberley and George Huntley have since left the band. Wimberley briefly played with another band called Parklife, and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue interests in Hollywood and in electronic music. He is currently a member of the Los Angeles band, The Lamps.
Huntley is now selling real estate and working part time at the University of North Carolina music department.
Peele Wimberley was replaced on drums by Steve Ritter; after several years Ritter was soon replaced by Chris Stevenson on drums, and Mike Ayers took George's place on lead guitar. The new lineup recorded the album Old School Dropouts.
In 1993, they released "''74-'75" which remains their most popular song. It is based on experiences of the Class of 1975 in a high school in Raleigh, North Carolina. The video juxtaposed original yearbook pictures with the class members as they appeared at the time. And then in 2015, the producers tracked down the original members once again, and produced a remixed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6l3Lh2cb_g
The last official release of the band was in 2001. They still occasionally perform together, including a reunion concert in 2020.
Dull Brown And Gray
The Connells Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Connells:
'74 Got no reason for comin' to me And the rain runnin'…
'74 '75 Got no reason for comin' to me And the rain runnin'…
'74-'75 Got no reason for comin' to me And the rain runnin'…
1934 I don't know if I care any more The silver's hidden…
74 Got no reason for comin' to me And the rain runnin'…
74 75 Got no reason for coming to me And the rain running…
74-75 Got no reason for comin' to me And the rain runnin'…
Adjective Song Bigger. Better. Smarter. Cleaner. Nicer. Younger. These …
All Sinks In I've been turning a new direction. And polishing my reflect…
Any Be yourself Be yourself so you won't fade out Keep yoursel…
Any Day Now Words and Music: Doug MacMillan Any day now, they'll have yo…
Back to Blighty Back in Blighty So we left New York and the sun…
Back To Blue This new neighborhood ain't no good Am I understood? Somethi…
Bitter Pill Feeling apart from yourself While you're feeling When you'…
Brighter Worlds Tell them, won't you tell them? I know, don't you…
Bruised So, they say I'm doing fine And they say you're…
Burden Words and Music: Mike Connell And once said "please, some mo…
Bust Morning lands like aeroplanes wrecked inside my bed. Your f…
Carry My Picture Words and Music: Mike Connell You never think to occupy my…
Choose A Side When they said "Who won the war?" You were in the…
Circlin Say you going to shed that skin, oh yeah will you…
Circlin' Say you going to shed that skin, oh yeah Will you…
Crown The crown is off the one ahead of you You down…
Curly Little curly hair in a high chair, What's your order for…
Curly's Train Twenty four in a car, in a car Rollin' on a…
Darker Days And if I do wonder, what to do. Waiting on the…
Disappointed Words and Music: Mike Connell Change whatever gets strange i…
Doin Words and Music: George Huntley I wouldn't bet the whale tha…
Dull Not feeling so amazed but doing alright Unguarded and unfaze…
Elegance He's home, and for the First time ever He walked…
Eyes On The Ground Words and Music: Doug MacMillan Really ought to check the ha…
Fifth Fret He heard about those two. He heard it from the…
Find Out Words and Music: Dog MacMillan You're thinking everybody nee…
Fine Tuning You better open your eyes wide, it's all here You been…
Friendly Time I saw the Parkers and Triefenbachs I saw the Williams and…
Fun Hey fellow with a million smackers And nervous indigestion R…
Fun & Games Let me tear down into your heart Let me take a…
Gauntlet Tell you about the first one It's all the same to…
Get A Gun When she came down, heading me home safe and sound, All…
Glade Anyday, your gonna to throw it all away See you got…
Gladiator Heart Stepping out, hoping from the start. Anyway, something left…
Gonna Take A Lie Fever in a blistser out, you know It will simmer until…
Hang On There's peace in the valley and the scum's moving in And…
Hats Off You love to change your mind. Hate to see you lost…
Hello Walter And yeah I believed him when he said he'd seen…
Hey Wow Is the sun out, Has the wind died, Or is…
Hey You Words: David Connell, Mike Connell, and Doug MacMillan Music…
Holding Pattern Once in a while I can see through What is real…
Home Today Coming home today, A season spent away, It is hard…
I Got You You are a picture no artist could paint But you're a…
I Suppose Spent time far away, Spent your days lost in grey…
If It Crumbles And for the first and For the last time, I'll…
In My Head Inside my head I hurt a lot 'Cause I'm thinking…
Insane in the Brain Put the white on the flam for your temper I'll just…
Inside My Head Inside my head I hurt a lot 'Cause I'm thinking…
Just Like That There you are and you can't believe a thing Especially what…
Just Like Us The young ones will step away. How long will it take…
Lay Me Down Sing to me sweetly as I turn sour Lay me…
Let It Go Tie me up don't tie me down Take it in and…
Link Are you too young to play, too old to let…
Living In The Past Happy and I'm smiling, walking miles to drink your water. Y…
Logan Street Oh yes I know, and believe me it gets worse. I…
Maybe Gonna plan my deliverance Gonna plan it myself Gonna stand…
Motel There isn't room in the Inn The keeper wouldn't be…
Much Easier Fell out of bed this morning, find a new face. I…
New Boy Words and Music: Mike Connell Sometimes I get the feeling th…
On Your Honor Did you see how long the party was? We're talking…
One Simple Word Got the rest of the day, and I'll share it…
Over There All right, pure delight To see you stand in All…
Pawns Pawns for a pauper's son Handouts for everyone Please rele…
Pretty Rough Got my feet up in a car I'm not going where…
Put Down Some miles to go Radio Curious Morning song Nothing wrong …
Queen Of Charades I remember who Venus held in her arms I can…
Running Mary Words and Music: Mike Connell I was running Mary. And the da…
Rusted Fields Head out. I′m heading out. I'll see you there across the…
Sal Hey there Sal, you sure are crazy And boy you…
Scotty's Lament So surprised, I fought windmills. So surprised, I saw ang…
Set The Stage I see you shuffle on the set when you stand…
Seven My brother told me What had happened on that day. Although…
Slackjawed Words and Music: Mike Connell Someone tells me somethin' -- …
Smoke Going to take you back, all the way to yesterday when…
Something To Say Oh, you never learned the 'Whens' and 'Wheres' and 'Whys' An…
Soul Reactor It doesn't matter if you are going to wait But the…
Speak To Me Slow down, I'm not looking for an answer. But at least…
Spiral Words and Music: Mike Connell Come steer me now Leave ideas …
Start I hear you're waving me off I hear you're moving on…
Still Life Its the way that you repair the broken parts Its the…
Stone Cold Yesterday I want a word with you, 'bout some average jimmy. He…
Take A Bow I heard you ring, so you'll be there with bells. I…
Ten Pins All alone, you sit by the hour You're waiting for…
The Bottom It is the open empty bottom I swore I'd never…
The Joke Here's a man who can't take a joke. He wails and…
The Leper Words, shallow words And it all amounts to nothing Sounds,…
Too Gone And what am i too gone for you? And when am…
Too High So the trouble got your tongue And all you pulled it…
Try So wouldn't you like to try? You're so alive and…
Trÿ So wouldn't you like to try? You're so alive and unusual. I…
Uninspired Well the steel in his strings Cuts into his fingers…
Unspoken Words Call to myself and they locked me in. Call to myself…
Upside Down Don't ask me what I think of this I only…
Waiting My Turn I asked her to stay here with me a while. Oh,…
Washington There's a painting of Washington, and he's standing in a…
What Do You Want The room we're in's the only friend this evening. If i…
Wonder Why Oh, I was really very small, When all that is sanity…
´74-´75 Got no reason for coming to me And the rain running…
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B Bloem
on In my Head
I always thought this was being sung to an aborted baby.