Terry Kirkman, lead singer and founder of The Association, sadly passed away on Saturday, September 23, 2023. He wrote this song (along with others) and it's one of the greatest songs ever penned.
wow, Terry Kirkman passed away? Ohhhh no; he was AWESOME! Albeit i was only 5 - 7 yrs old in the 60s; i remember sooooooo many of these incredible songs; and TV shows; The Courtship of Eddie's Father; Bewitched, Family Affair, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Perry Mason, The Fugitive, Romper Room, Get Smart. There was Captain Kangaroo, Jumping Jack before Sesame Street... etc...
He was 83. ---- The cause was Congestive Heart Failure. --- This song was Mr. Kirkman's answer to the Beach Boys masterwork "In my Room". --- Both songs include the words "Dreaming" and "Scheming". --- RIP, Terry Kirkman.
Yeah at 6zero ......but local government thieves and the evil demons in human form stole Our house and EVERYTHING in it . And what was supposed to be Our Sons , scratch that WAS their legal possessions . The evil is rampant .
No fancy, flashy on-stage costumes, fog & pyretics, blinding lights, exorbitant makeup, etc. Just mesmerizing harmony. This IS what singing is supposed to be. First listened as a teenager but still listening as a senior. Forever cherished.
I AM 67 YEARS OLD AND I AM SO GLAD I GREW UP LISTENING TO GREAT SONGS SUCH AS THIS. THIS IS AS BEAUTIFUL A SONG NOW AS IT WAS THEN....................CHERISH IS THE WORD.
Clean cut young gentlemen who can harmonize and actually carry a tune. They put today's so called "artists" to shame. It is so sad that much of today's music is pure noise. I am so glad that we can still enjoy these songs via the wonder of You Tube. Thank you for posting.
Most people (myself included) thought they were a vocal group who performed in front of a band. Never fully realizing their immense talent as musicians as well.
remember those little transistor radios? A lot of the guys heading to Vietnam took them and in camp they would try desperately to listen to just a few bars of songs like these. I served during Vietnam. I served, I saw, and I wept for all that did not return,
I agree...they have some killer tunes. I was born after there biggest songs 1974, but I have come to realize that some of my favorite 60s tunes(this and Windy for example) are the Association...great band
This is the first record that my husband bought me when we were dating. We still do cherish one another . We are now married 48 years and together 52 years.
I fell in love with a girl who was 15 in the summer of 1970. I don't think she ever realized how much I cared for her. She died young. I fell for another girl and I tell her every day how much I love her. We've been married 45 years. What a wonderful world!
It´s good !!! I fell in love at the age of 23 with a girl, and the day I met her I said I was going to marry her, we are 44 years old "dating" we had 3 children and 6 grandchildren, and we are in love until today !!
I am not married but someday I hope I find the right person to "cherish" the rest of my life. A faithful kind person who laughs and cries with me. Who has his priorities in proper order.
My husband and I were dating when this song became so popular. I listened to it everyday. It brings back some wonderful memories. It is a very special song for us. We will be married 50 years on 9/21/2016.
September is the best month to marry ! I know several people who have married in September and have been married for years. If you are not married yet Cat Man and you decide to marry tell your girlfriend it has to be September. It is a great month !
This record was produced by my dear friend and mentor, Gary S. Paxton. The story behind this record is interesting: It was recorded in Hollywood at Gary's studio, located in his house. In fact he made the entire house into a studio - along with all the house furnishings (much like the studio he had here in Nashville). The control room was located in an upstairs bedroom, with a hole in the floor so that he cold talk back to the musicians downstairs. That control room had the only 8 channel tape recorder in Hollywood at the time, of which he rented out to Capitol records often (Beach Boys, Sinatra, ect.) That machine is currently in his basement in Branson Missouri. (I've got photos of it). The musicians were all Gary's studio band. At the time they recorded this record, there were only two guys who consisted of the Association. The rest of them were hired to sing in the group on the road. This is a video of that group. The way they recorded this record (actually the entire album, which also features "Along Comes Mary") was very unusual. The drummer was in the dining room. The guitars were in the living room, and the vocals were recorded in the kitchen (which explains the kind-of "open room" sound of the vocals). I think the bells were recorded in a separate bedroom upstairs. If you listen to the original 1-inch master tape, you'll hear Gary yelling down the hole in the floor, "Tape's rolling..."
@Kevin Wicker: Wasn't this song one of the 2 grammy's that Gary S. Paxton won for producing this song?? The other was a gospel record he sang on later.
Wrecking Crew drumming great Hal Blaine who played on the original version said he thought this was perhaps the best of the thousands of songs he performed on.
@@toddb8851 Why🤷🏻♀️?? How🤷🏻♀️?? I’m a woman of color (73 to be exact) born and bred in NYC; a beautiful melting pot of cultures - which inevitably includes MUSIC! YES, NYC is racist, but this is AmeriKKKa after all. More to my point, I’m not quite understanding how the lyrics - or how the style in which they’re delivered, is considered racist. That said, I can name some white groups from that era to the present who’s lyrics are pretty distasteful.
This song is miles above most of the more recent ones. It conveys feeling, and is very well played and sung. The lyrics are very good and meaningful. How I miss those times when singers were elegant, and sang nice songs with no profanities or vulgar words.
I saw The Association live in concert when I was a college student in the late 1960s. Not ashamed to say that listening to this made me tear up a bit, since many of my classmates and friends from back then are no longer with us.
The shit birds at the rock and roll hall of fame should be embarrased !!! ...this band should of made first ballot ...what a disgrace !! Their ignorance is baffling ...son ofa bitches ....
I saw them when they were just becoming popular in 1966, and they opened for the Beach Boys -- they sang "Cherish," it was the first time we heard it, it hadn't been released yet. The Beach Boys weren't very good live, and the Association won the audience that evening, we all walked out in the end singing this soulful song.
For me this is their best song. An excellent love song which expresses very deep feelings about a hopeless love affair. It is hard to love and not be loved in return. One feels like if one were wothless at times. It has happened to all of us who have lived enough. But fortunately most of us get over it in time.
She was the most beautiful girl in our high school, and there was somewhere around 4500 of us. I had girlfriends in High School, but always thought about her. Never tried, that is the most pathetic part. She was in a different group and I was with the troublemakers, I loved them all. I always thought about her as I knew the lyrics were true, not going to be the one, etc. I was in Vietnam in a hole, in the rain, and this song came on the radio. I saw her face, and layed back. All of a sudden, I was not in VN anymore, I was in HS and she was walking past me in the hall. I didn't feel the rain anymore. I had a good life, a good lady and 4 kids and 5 grandchildren. No regrets there, but I always wonder, what if? If you have a desire, GO GET IT! Trying and failing is far better than living wondering.
I'm sure your "lady" is lovely. You had children with her. And grandchildren. You have more than most ever will. I think that if it were meant for you to be with her, you certainly would not have the life you have now. So don't wonder. It wasn't going to happen. She sounds honestly like a pleasant memory, that's all. And it got you through something rough and that's good, but that's all. Wishing you and your family all the best.
She hooked up with the star quarterback. They graduated, married, and he became an abusive drunk appliance salesman. The abuse led her into a depression. She eventually became addicted to prescription drugs, which led to harder street drugs and eventually to heroin. She finally divorced the guy and started working as a topless dancer till the drugs and age stole her youthful beauty. She became a cheap hooker, turning a trick for a high and a place to sleep for the night. Now she's in her 70s, living in a trailer park in Smyrna, Tennessee, living on welfare and food stamps, smoking cheap cigarettes and drinking cheap gin, watching game shows on a 24 inch television, and listening to the oldies station, remembering when she was the most beautiful girl in school, and wondering what happened to all those dreams from so long ago.... Does that make you feel better now?
oh, I'm so glad you had a good life with a good wife and I wish you soooo many more good years. However, the telling of your story touched my heart and made me sad that you didn't - because of your circumstances - try. It's a good lesson you offer.
Who lived in the 60 or 70 know the technical difficulties of any media edition. Only in the last 20 years, with the evolution of the features of the media is that we can have lists on youtube. We must remember and always thank the pioneers: JOBS Wozniak, and many others whose work made it possible for us today we had the opportunity to hear and see this rescue of the not too distant past, and lived very valuable About that time knows that lived a time gold, all were into what we were studying had ... and had bonds, but also played up, dating up, made up parties and we lived in peace ... Today one can not say that they are many of those values .. . thank all day I have lived by that time, where we learn the values that are so scarce today ..
A timeless classic. Rarely heard on the airwaves now which is a travesty. Such a beautiful stunning song which I think has never been surpassed. Simply wonderful.
This song is never on the radio anymore. They should have had a couple of mid 1980s comeback hits like other 1960s bands did during the mid 1980s. A have a cd set from them about 50 songs and more than 45 of them are good or better than good. One of the best bands of the entire 1960s.
I was in Nam and when I came home this was the first album I bought. "The Association".....I wore the grooves out. Every song was fantastic! "Enter The Young" On and on. I later got a rare Cd from Japan of the same album. Still have it today!
Ricardo Alencar de Azambuja I would say there are fewer that can write music well today, but there are still those that can, that have the essence of the message they are trying to give captured, though some say anything less then classical, jazz or symphany is not good music, but most cant even play well if at all their insterment let alone be one of the people that is learned in playing abillity as well as degrees in the musical arts like professors, of sorts, that have the full mastery of theory, writting, and playing, and the genious to write about something with real meaning and not just for the money. there is noththing wrong with using all the tools but they ought not be the main crutch for lack of talent, such as auto tune, or using the computer because you dont even have the skill to match beats as a dj or know when to change the sound and song on the fly to keep a good vibe at a party, let alone play keybords or have a band going with the electronic insterments or computers.
I remember listening to this song on the AM transister radio back in the late 60's, but now hearing it in full stereo on You Tube is awesome. Ah memories
I was in high school when this was popular and remember dancing close to my ex-wife to this song, very romantic and one of the all time great slow songs.
52 years have gone by since this song hit number one back in 1966. I was 12 years old then. And now that I'm 64... The song sounds as fresh to me now as it did the first time I heard it back in 1966. They are just one of the reasons why I consider the music of the 60's as the greatest decade in Rock & Roll history... Priceless!
Ditto... and now I'm a 60 year old insurance salesman by day, and a long-haired rock guitarist in a classic rock cover band by night. But, I was listening to The Association in my single digits. They remind me of simpler times with my family, my first crushes and kisses, and just being stress free as a kid.
Don't think for a moment about being alone. I am 70, I have family but there are thousands of people in our age group alone and I am going to do something about it. I would like to start a web site/club so we can get people together, exchange information, help each other. Not like AARP which is essentially fluff and feel good articles. I mean real help, you need income, here's some ideas, you need help with Social Security, here's help, somebody to fix your car in your area, here's someone, Heating help, Roofing, Painting, Real Estate, Insurance, Government programs, etc. I live in Madison, WI and I know a good deal of this. Someone like me lives in every area of the Country and we could help each other. No fees, the Web site could be complicated, landing page, response system, etc., but it should not cost much to run. One of us I am sure could do the design work. I am not that talented. Even an 800 number for more immediate response. Oh, yeah, maybe a listing of fun groups in your area. There is no need to be alone. Any ideas, I'm sastitab@gmail.com.
This band and this song in particular owned Salt Lake City in the mid 60's. Every time I turned on my car radio, it would soon show up. It is a great memory, it was some of the best years of my life. Thanks, guys
I remember when I was just 16 yrs old a boy that liked me dedicaded this song to me and I never forget that day, but my parents didn't let us get together because we were to young...This song means a lot to me, I never saw him again.
I was the bad-boy type then,that most mothers tried to keep their daughters away from. Born in Paris France til I Was 13. My girl Re'nee and I would go"parking"on Saturday night. No matter what I did wrong all week was forgotten when this song came on my"65"GTO radio.From 11-12am Terry Lee would have music for young lovers.After all my sins were forgotten, until I got her home at 1am. Then I heard her mom"What do you see in that bad French kid !!" 🇫🇷.
Very beautiful music. My oldest brother introduced us to the Association & the Classic IV's music in the early 70's. He came back from Vietnam with a reel-to-reel tape player and played Cherish, Traces, Stormy and other nostalgic songs like them. He would lay in bed listening to this music over and over. I think he missed a special girl he met over there, and his many friends that he left behind in the war, and this music helped him get over those Memories.
I am a classic rock guy along with hard rock, heavy metal. I have always thought this is an excellent executed piece of music. Association had some great tunes.
To my last minute, notice, Terry Kirkman, may you have a peaceful rest, ❤ if I can pick a favorite that would be, cherish, grew up listening to your songs there all beautiful, I'm sixty years old now, am still listening, God bless us all the fans
My husband and my “song”…….it was popular when we were high school sweethearts. We were married 41 years before he died. This song played during the photos of our life together at his memorial. 😢❤ Beautiful song!
@@faithpatterson7158 If you're referring to the Fab Four, yeah, definitely! My favorite song of theirs is Golden Slumbers where they showcase the drumming ability of Ringo Starr.
@@AnneMarie-xq7uw Quote: "If you're referring to the Fab Four, yeah, definitely!" ...Who else would the Fab Four be? Are you referring to his spelling of Beatles as "beetles"? ..and a quick question: I've noticed a lot lately that people will respond to something said, and then make a statement followed by, "yeah, definitely" or comment and say, "but yeah...." and then have no proof of their affirmation of fact or truth on how and why it's correct. Where is that coming from?
I knew the girl that this song was written to. She went to Purdue University. We were at her apartment for Purdue Home Coming and the band (Association) walked in. She went on to marry him and she sang backup in songs by the Association and also Gary Pucket and the Union Gap. In my mind, it was the most romantic song of the era. Youth today does not have love songs like this and they are missing something.
I was born 1958. The Association was one of the best influences of my childhood. Listening now, I realize its remarkably well crafted music. By the way, I’m a jazz musician.
I was born in 1960. I loved alll is music so much even when young. It's everything!! I fronted off in bands, studied classical music to improve my voice...got close in L.A. but all my "breaks" fell through. I'm still grateful we had the best music in our generation!!!
This song could be 20 minutes long and wouldn't be long enough! I was 7 when this song came out and it embodied the great music and sound of all the amazing music of the 1960's. I think it stayed at #1 on WCFL am radio survey for like 4 weeks and deserved it.
Unbelievable!! I was 12 at the time, Aaaaaaaaw those junior @t years. A magical time when songs like this gem spoke to the spirit, soul and mind of young teenagers because they carried real meaning and beauty. I still sit back and relax to the sound of this lovely classic just as I did almost 50 years ago. : )
What was truly remarkable about the Association was that the group remained consistently excellent for a very long time, the featured vocalist changed as the song required, all of the band members were accomplished musicians, and the leadership of the band changed and evolved over time. The six man lineup shown in this video is the one best remembered, but it later became a seven-man group, with a long list of musicians joining and leaving the group over the years. When other bands in the 1960s were singing trendy anti-war songs, the Association was creating music that transcended the era, as proved by its continuing popularity all these years later. They left an enduring legacy. Few bands can say that.
