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.
Stone Cold Yesterday
The Connells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He told me things that I guess I never knew.
He was a bad dancer, 'til he learned to shimmy.
He was adrift until the world came into view.
He had an old stand-by. not your average betty.
She showed me things that I guess I always knew.
She was a slow burner, 'til the world got steady.
Hey, get me out of this some way.
I wouldn't feel so inhibited.
Gotta get me out of this some way.
I want to see what it is thay see.
Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man?
Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man?
Hey, get me out of this some way.
I wouldn't feel so inhibited.
Gotta get me out to this some way.
I want to see what it is e see.
Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man?
Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man?
And I walked, and I breathed, and I tried to not let it change me.
Don't it make you wonder, man?
Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man?
The lyrics of The Connells's song "Stone Cold Yesterday" depict a conversation between two individuals about a mutual friend named Jimmy. The first speaker describes how Jimmy revealed things to him that he never knew before and how Jimmy learned to dance, becoming a different person once he saw the world differently. The second speaker speaks of a woman named Betty who showed him things he always knew but took time to understand, and who was only found in the afternoon after being a slow burner. They both lament feeling inhibited and wanting to see the world through Jimmy's and Betty's eyes. The chorus reflects on the changes that occurred in the past, and how they wonder about it and how it affected them. The final lines of the song emphasize the attempt to stay the same despite the changes, suggesting a discomfort with even the positive changes that took place.
The song can be interpreted as a reflection on the changes that come with life experiences and growth. The characters of Jimmy and Betty represent people who have gone through some significant changes, and the singers are attempting to understand them and connect with that change. The chorus reflects on the disquieting nature of change, even if it is positive, emphasizing the struggle to maintain one's identity and understanding of the world, despite the transformations that occur.
Overall, "Stone Cold Yesterday" is a contemplation on personal growth and the discomfort that comes with changing perspectives. It highlights the struggle to understand others' experiences and how we can be changed by them.
Line by Line Meaning
I want a word with you, 'bout some average jimmy.
I need to talk to you about a regular guy.
He told me things that I guess I never knew.
He shared with me things I didn't know before.
He was a bad dancer, 'til he learned to shimmy.
He wasn't a good dancer, until he learned some new moves.
He was adrift until the world came into view.
He felt lost until he discovered his place in the world.
He had an old stand-by. not your average betty.
He had a reliable partner, not an ordinary girl.
She showed me things that I guess I always knew.
She revealed things to me that I always suspected.
She was a slow burner, 'til the world got steady.
She took her time, until she found her footing in the world.
She wasn't found until the early afternoon.
She was discovered later in life.
Hey, get me out of this some way.
I need to escape from this situation somehow.
I wouldn't feel so inhibited.
I wouldn't feel so restricted.
Gotta get me out of this some way.
I have to find a way out of this situation.
I want to see what it is that they see.
I want to understand their perspective.
Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
The past is unchanged, yet it has affected me. How have I changed?
Don't it make you wonder, man?
Doesn't it make you curious?
And I walked, and I breathed, and I tried to not let it change me.
I went on living my life, trying not to let it change me.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DOUGLAS MACMILLAN, MICHAEL CONNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sound Sibelius
I want a word with you, 'bout some average Jimmy
He told me things that I guess I never knew
He was a bad dancer, 'til he learned to shimmy
He was adrift until the world came into view
He had an old stand-by. Not your average Betty
She showed me things that I guess I always knew
She was a slow burner, 'til the world got steady
She wasn't found until the early afternoon
Hey, get me out of this some way
I wouldn't feel so inhibited
Gotta get me out of this some way
I want to see what it is thay see
Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man?BR Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man??
Hey, get me out of this some way
I wouldn't feel so inhibited
Gotta get me out to this some way
I want to see what it is e see
Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man?BR Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man??
And I walked, and I breathed, and I tried to not let it change me
Don't it make you wonder, man?
Stone cold yesterday, changed, how did it change me?
Don't it make you wonder, man?
Kihm Sanders
Driving and forceful, yet evocative enough to pluck at your heartstrings. The Connells were a vastly underrated band, full of crafty, imaginative ideas.
seventh son
How could you listen to this tune and not feel good!! Classic.
Mortal Kombat Too
Mike Connell, the king of the guitar fill! Love them!
atomicinjun
I remember seeing these guys at the Asylum in Tempe, Arizona. I nearly lost my mind. Gone too soon. They're such an awesome sound.
Tim Wimpee
Its been 20 years but they have a new album out that is excellent and are touring some. Ive seen them three times on this tour and they are as good as ever.
Herbert Richard
@James Frederick Smith Boylan Heights is perhaps the greatest modern rock record. The boys were in a class by themselves.
Alex Orr
@James Frederick Smith That's amazing the Blind Tiger is still around! I have fond memories of seeing Archers of Loaf, Ben Folds Five, Superchunk, and Small 23 there back in the '90s!
Jennifer Konstant
I saw them last September in Richmond. Doug was sick as a dog, but they still sounded amazing. As good as they did last time I saw them 20 years ago. Such a talented bunch of musicians!
SouthCarolinaPicker
+atomicinjun .. What a Band this was! Can't say how many original members participate these days; I think Mike and Dave, along with DougMcMillan; but, I'm really not sure ..
Michael McBride
Soooo underrated!