Cherishis a pop music song written by Terry Kirkman and
recorded by The Association. Released in 1966, the song reached
number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in September of that
year and remained in the top position for three weeks. In
Canada the song also reached number one. Nina Simone recorded
her version on 1967's
Silk and Soul.
Session musician Doug Rhodes, also member of The Music
Machine, played the Celesta on the recording.
David Cassidy recorded his own version on his 1972 album
Cherish; his version of the song reached #9 on the Hot
100 chart and spent one week at #1 on the adult contemporary
chart (#3 in Canada). Barry Manilow covered this song, along
with
Windy, on Manilow's 2006 album,
The Greatest Songs of the Sixties. Other covers have
been performed by artists such as The Four Tops and Jodeci, but
the original Association version of the song appears at the end
of The Simpsons Season 20 Episode 6, entitled "Homer and Lisa
Exchange Cross Words", and The Nanny Season 5 Episode 15,
entitled "The Engagement". The chords for this song also appear
in Spongebob Squarepants Season 5 Episode 13, entitled "Breath
of Fresh Squidward".
Known for its simple lyrics and complex vocal harmonies,
"Cherish" is widely regarded as one of the greatest love songs
ever written, and the original version still gets regular
airplay today.