The Association

Cherish

Song Review by Matthew Greenwald

Number 22 on BMI's list of the most played 100 songs on television and radio of the 20th century, "Cherish" remains a classic of the era, and is still to this day played at countless weddings and anniversaries. Written by Association member Terry Kirkman, the song was strongly inspired by the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin." This song contains a similar tempo and stately grace. The movement in the harmonic changes also have a palpable big-band jazz influence as well, and this surely comes from Kirkman's Stan Kenton leanings. Sweet and sentimental, the lyrics have a quality that is easy to relate to, indeed was part of its appeal. Although the song had a three-week run at the top spot on the pop charts, it almost didn't come out as a single. Producer Curt Boettcher, feeling that the long running time (3:30) would discourage radio play, put down the incorrect, shorter time of three minutes even on the label, and that did the trick, sending the group on a brief but satisfying run in the Top 40 charts.

Appears On

Year	Artist/Album	Label	Time
1966	The Association And Then...Along Comes the Association	Warner Bros.	3:27
1968	The Association Greatest Hits!	Warner Bros.	3:29
1981	The Association The Association [1981]	Warner Bros.
1986	The Association Songs That Made Them Famous	Pair	0:00
1988	Various Artists American Rock 'N' Roll Classics, Vol. 6	Roulette Records
1990	Various Artists AM Gold: 1966	Time / Life Music	3:27
1992	Various Artists Super Box of Rock [1992]	Dominion	3:23
1993	Various Artists Heartbreakers, Vol. 3: True Love	Dominion / K-Tel Distribution	3:23
1993	Various Artists The Sensational 60's, Vol. 2 [Dominion]	Dominion	3:02
1993	Various Artists The Fabulous 60's	Dominion / K-Tel Distribution
1995	Various Artists Billboard Top Pop Hits: 1966	Rhino
1996	Various Artists Only Rock 'N Roll 1965-1969: #1 Radio Hits	Rhino / JCI Associated Labels	3:26
1997	Various Artists Sixties Generation: 1966	Retro Music	3:21
1997	Various Artists Party Gold	Compose Records	3:23
1997	Various Artists Happy Days 1960's	Madacy Distribution / Madacy	3:25
1997	Various Artists The Wedding Album, Vol. 2	Quality Music / Quality	3:00
1997	Various Artists 1960's Rock N Roll	Madacy	3:23
1997	Various Artists Global Rock, Vol. 6: From London to L.A.	Columbia River Entertainment Group
1997	Various Artists Rockin' Jukebox, 1966	Excelsior Recordings	3:23
1998	Various Artists Greatest Hits of the 60's: 1966	CMM Music	3:22
1998	Various Artists 100 Jukebox Hits: 50's & 60's	Madacy Distribution / Madacy	3:23
1998	Various Artists #1 Hits: The Love Songs	St. Clair / Number 1 Hits	3:25
1998	Chart Toppers Chart Toppers: Romantic Hits of the 60s	Priority Records	3:25
1998	Various Artists Generations of Folk, Vol. 3: Classic Harmonies	Vanguard	3:27
1998	Various Artists Chicken Soup for the Soul: Love and Inspiration	Rhino	3:24
1999	Various Artists Dick Bartley Presents Collector's Essentials: Rock & Roll's Greatest Love Songs	Varèse Sarabande / Varese	3:16
1999	Various Artists 4 Legendary Groups	Double Play Records	3:22
1999	Various Artists Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Christmas Gift to You	Rhino	3:24
1999	Various Artists Rock N' Roll of the 60's, Vol. 2	Madacy	3:23
2000	Various Artists Hot Hits: Rock N' Roll of the 60's	Madacy Distribution / Madacy	3:23
2000	Various Artists Sixties Generation: 1966-1967	St. Clair	3:21
2000	Various Artists Rock N' Roll Hits of the 60's	Madacy Distribution / Madacy	3:23
2000	Various Artists Memorable Party Favorites	St. Clair	3:25
2000	The Association Ten Best	Purple Pyramid / Cleopatra	3:26
2000	Various Artists Casey Kasem Presents: Number One Hits-The Love Songs	Top Sail Productions	3:28
2000	Various Artists Easy Listening Gold: 1966-1967	Heartland Productions, Inc.	3:23
2001	Various Artists Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow	Legacy	3:26
2001	Various Artists Love Is Forever	St. Clair	3:23
2001	Various Artists Love Is Forever [Box Set]	St. Clair	3:23
2001	Various Artists 60's Groove	Direct Source	3:22
2001	Various Artists Dick Clark's #1's: 50's to 70's "When AM Radio Was King"	Rhino	3:26
2001	Various Artists Happy Days, 1960's	Madacy	3:22
2002	Various Artists The Sixties Groovy Hits [2002]	Deuce Boxed Sets	3:24
2002	The Association No. 1 aux U.S.A. [EMI Music France]	EMI Music Distribution	3:25
2002	Various Artists Jukebox Hits 1966 [Madacy 2 CD]	Madacy Distribution / Madacy	3:23
2002	Original Soundtrack Cherish [Original Soundtrack]	New Line Records	3:27
2002	The Association The Essentials	Rhino / Warner Music	3:27
2002	Various Artists Gold Collection: Pop Love Songs	St. Clair	3:24
2003	Various Artists Rock N Roll Reunion 1966	Madacy Distribution / Madacy	3:26
2003	Various Artists 21 Winners: Jukebox Hits of the '60s [2003]	Madacy	3:22
2003	Various Artists Soft Rock Classics [Direct Source]	Direct Source	3:22
2003	Various Artists #1 Pop Hits of the 60s & 70s [Madacy Box]	Madacy	3:24
2003	Various Artists More Ultimate Power of Love	Madacy Distribution / Madacy	3:23
2003	Various Artists #1 Pop Hits of the 60s & 70s [Green]	Madacy	3:24
2004	Various Artists Treasury of Love	Time / Life Music	3:27
2004	Various Artists Love and Romance All Night Long	St. Clair	3:23
2004	Various Artists Gold Collection: Feelin' Groovy	St. Clair	3:22
2004	Various Artists Happy Days of the 60s [2-CD]	Madacy	3:24
2004	Various Artists 20 Best Hits of the 60s	Madacy	3:22
2004	Various Artists Straight from the Heart [Box Set]	Universal Special Products	3:28
2004	Various Artists Ultimate Love [Madacy]	Madacy	3:23
2004	Various Artists Love and Romance	United Audio Entertainment	3:22
2004	Various Artists Lifetime Of Romance: Secret Rendezvous	Time / Life Music	3:25
2005	Various Artists Golden Era of the 60's [Bonus DVD]	Madacy	3:20
2005	The Association Rhino Hi-Five: The Association	Rhino / Warner Bros.	3:29
2005	Various Artists Ultimate Wedding Songs	Time / Life Music	3:25
2005	Various Artists Rhino Hi-Five: Wedding Songs, Vol. 1	ITH / Rhino / Warner Bros.	3:30
2005	Various Artists Hit Radio Flashback, Vol. 1	United Multi License	3:23
2005	Various Artists Legends: 60's Jukebox Legends	Direct Source	3:24
2005	Various Artists 60's Radio Gold	St. Clair	3:22
2006	Various Artists Moments of Love: Ultimate Love Songs	Style Records	3:23
2006	Various Artists All #1 Hits '60s	Madacy	3:26
2006	Various Artists The Best Romantic Music	St. Clair	3:23
2006	Various Artists #1 Hits of the 50s and 60s [Madacy]	Madacy	3:21
2006	Various Artists #1 Hits of the 50's and 60's [Madacy CD 3]	Madacy	3:21
2007	Various Artists Romantic 60's: Original Artists	Laserlight	3:23
2007	Various Artists Prime 17: The Greatest Love Songs of All Time	Direct Source	3:26
2007	Various Artists #1 Classic Hits of the 60s 1965-1970	Madacy Distribution / Madacy	3:25
2007	Various Artists Lifetime of Romance [Time Life Box Set]	Time / Life Music	3:25
2008	The Association The Association: Studio 102 Essentials	Suite 102
2011	The Association Flashback with the Association	Rhino Flashback	3:26
2012	Various Artists Music of Your Life	Time / Life Music	3:25
2015	Various Artists The London American Label, Year by Year: 1966	Ace	3:14
2017	Various Artists Summer of Love [2017]	Rhino	3:27
2017	The Association Drop the Needle On the Hits: Best of the Association		3:25
	Various Artists Classic '60s Pop	Spectrum Music	3:24
	Various Artists Easy Listening Classics: Time Life's Movie Classics	Time / Life Music	3:25
	Various Artists Global Rock, Vol. 4-6: From London to L.A.	Columbia River Entertainment Group
	Various Artists Legendary Voices	StarVista / Time / Life Music	3:24
	Karaoke Party Tyme Karaoke: Billboard Top 40 Karaoke, Vol. 6	Sybersound Records	3:36
	Various Artists Romancing the '60s: My Special Angel	StarVista	3:26
	Various Artists Time Life Presents the 60s	Time Life	3:26
	Various Artists Time Life Presents: Greatest Love Songs of the 60's [5 Discs]	Time / Life Music	3:25
	Various Artists Top Hits/60's Only Number 1's	Warner Music	3:30

AllMusic

Composed by

Release Year

Song Genres

Song Styles

Song Moods

Song Themes

The Association

Cherish

Song Review by Matthew Greenwald

Appears On