The Association, AllMusic reports, “was one of the more underrated groups to come out of the mid-to-late ’60s. Creators of an enviable string of hits from 1966 through 1969 … the group’s smooth harmonies and pop-oriented sound … made them regular occupants of the highest reaches of the pop charts for two years. Their biggest hits became instant staples of AM radio play lists, which was a respectable achievement for most musicians at the time. That same sound, along with their AM radio popularity, however, proved a liability as the music environment around them changed at the end of the decade.”
“Cherish” reached #22 on BMI’s list of the 100 Most Played Songs on Television and Radio of the 20th century. Written by Terry Kirkman, the track reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, holding that position for three weeks. Billboard reported it as the #7 song of 1966. According to reporting by the Myrtle Beach Sun News, the band’s record label originally claimed that the tune sounded “too old and archaic.” But original band member Jim Yester retorted that the band “showed we can have archaic and eat it, too.”
Regular mod scout JB adds a few words about this submission: “It truly is an iconic song; the modulation at 2:18 — with its bridge build-up starting at 1:50 — has enough wattage to power LA for a day. Truly a piece of pop perfection!”
modulationoftheday.home.blog 