It was released as the second single from their third studio album , Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness . `` 1979 '' was written by frontman Billy Corgan , and features loops and samples that were not like previous Smashing Pumpkins songs . Released in 1996 as the second single from their third studio album , Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness , `` 1979 '' was written by frontman Billy Corgan , and features loops and samples that were uncharacteristic of previous Smashing Pumpkins songs .