formula to output based on date range

I tripping over proper syntax for this:

Where Cell A1 = DATE

I want Cell B1 to output based on the following:
If A1 < 01/01/1974, then X
If A1 >= 01/01/1974 and <= 12/31/1976, then Y
If A1 > 12/31/1976, then Z

Eaxmple:
A1 = 05/18/1975, B1 = Y

I know there are some if's, ands, commas, and parenthesis involved, but I can't seem to get a structure that excel likes.

Thank you!

That's the same logic I applied, but there is flaw in syntax. Excel says the formula contains an error.

There its is. I knew I had a problem with () not being in the right places but couldn't wrap my head around to correct pairings. Thank you!

I thought this was solved because Excel took it as usable formula, but I was wrong. The output for your formula is "X" in all cases. The correct output for my sample of 5/15/1975 should have been "Y".

The solution appears to be that all the "DATE" functions you suggested need to be replace with the property formatted function DATE(YYYY,MM,DD) resulting the following solution that works:

=IF( A1 < DATE(1974,1,1), "X",IF(AND( A1 >= DATE(1974,1,1), A1 <= DATE(1976,12,31)), "Y","Z"))

Marking Thread as Solved now.