Terry Kirkland of The Association was at his parents’ house one day when, in the course of conversation, someone uttered the word “CHerish.” Well, Terry immediately thought that would make a great song title…and a half-hour later, a Great Song of the ”60s had been written!

The group had been looking for a slow tempo song along the lines of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” by The Righteous Brothers…and “Cherish” was perfect: a song of unrequited love that, when completed, was full of gorgeous harmonies and

clever instrumentation… including chimes, which were simultaneously imitated by The Association’s vocalists.

“Cherish” was a #1 hit in both the US & Canada…making it a Great Song of 1966.

And here’s a PUN Fact for you: Association member Jim Yester once called the song, “Archaic.” but the song’s success just showed we can have archaic and eat it, too.”[ (insert rimshot here.)

And one more thing: David Cassidy covered the song in 1977, taking it to #1 on The Adult Contemporary Chart.

You can hear both versions below.