The Association – Cherish

“Cherish” – Single by the Association from the album And Then… Along Comes the Association
B-side: “Don’t Blame It on Me”
Released: August 1966
Label: Valiant
Songwriter: Terry Kirkman
Producer: Curt Boettcher

Released in 1966, the song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in September of that year.

Terry Kirkman wrote it in half an hour and put it into the live act of his group, the Association. He was looking for an emotional, slow tempo song in the same vein as the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'”. Mike Whelan, from the New Christy Minstrels, liked it so much that he convinced the Minstrels to record a version of the song, and in fact their recording was almost released before the Association’s.

The Association formed in California, where talented vocal groups seemed to grow on trees in the ’60s. This particular group stood out somewhat in that they had two talented songwriters in Terry Kirkman and Russ Giguere to help steer the band’s artistic course. On their debut album And Then… Along Comes The Association (released in 1966), they also benefited from outside material, including their debut hit single “Along Comes Mary,” written by Tandyn Almer. Producer Curt Boettcher also helped to shape the sound of the band on that debut thanks to his vocal arrangements.

Despite the title, you don’t want to play this song at your wedding. While the singer does cherish the girl, he knows that he can’t possibly have her, and comes off a little desperate and obsessive. A far better choice is “Never My Love,” which the group released a year later. That one finds our hero declaring his never-ending love.