Cherish, Part 1. The song/ Terry Kirkman/

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In April 1985 I fell in love with the American jazz guitarist  Pat Metheny. Jazz was always very popular in Poland, and even in the 80s a lot of great jazz musicians performed in Warsaw. I was at his concert at Warsaw's awful and huge Palace of Culture, with my husband and our best friend, we'd met in the 70's at school,  we loved music, that friend played in a punk band, and we were at many concerts together. I remember when we were walking back home  that night, at least 5 km, in silence, just smiling, because that concert was once in a life-time experience, truly mystical, also for Pat and his band. Something absolutely unforgettable, out of this world. He performed in my country later many times, and he still remembers that night in 1985.

And the connection with Cherish..Here you are :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbW4FmlN3M8

'Cherish' was written in 1966 by Terry Kirkman (born 1939) and recorded with his group The Association. In September 1966 that song became number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 ( for 3 weeks)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg9uVA9-Uuk

This time I will not say that David Cassidy's version is better. It's different, from another decade. Terry Kirkman's song is simply beautiful and timeless. It's a real classic, great melody and lyrics and The Association was really fantastic band, famous for  amazing vocal harmonies, btw their first hit was 'Along Comes Mary' (Tandyn Almer again)

David released his version in October 1971, and it was number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, and for one week number 1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, in the US this single was sold over one million copies. It was also the first DC hit in the UK, number 2 on the charts (double A-side with Could It Be Forever). Here, very tired David singing Cherish on a very hot (and crazy) afternoon in 1974, in Australia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCt9WMts1A8

We can see why he had enough of touring in 1974. David Cassidy performed Cherish in 1985, in 1991, and after he started giving concerts again in 2000, he asked the members of his fan club what song they would most like him to perform, and Cherish was the first choice..After those years the song and the word 'cherish' acquired   special meaning for fans and for David. This is our song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvGP8q_YFqs

Comments

  1. Claudette2/19/21, 2:04 AM

    I have really enjoyed listening to Pat Metheny ,he is a great guitarist .I can tell he has a true passion for guitar playing and puts so much feeling into the song " Cherish " .its interesting how there are different versions of this song ,the band "The Association" are very good too .I had never heard anyone sing this song before apart from David Cassidy .what I will say is David always sung his songs with so much feeling and had a great voice too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Weronika2/19/21, 9:06 AM

    I'm so happy you have liked Pat Metheny's guitar playing. He is an amazing artist, got 20 Grammies..David Cassidy did many covers (most singers do) and it's fascinating to compare different versions , also I like reading those stories about songs and people who wrote them..

    ReplyDelete
  3. Claudette2/19/21, 10:14 AM

    Wow! 20 Grammies ,that is a fantastic achievement ,I had never heard of him before. Its interesting to know who wrote the songs ,they deserve recognition , just like the artists that sing them .

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alastair Whybrow2/21/21, 4:58 AM

    This comment written by Doreen Walker: All these version of "Cherish" are great in their own right and are different from one another, it is good to hear them like this as you can hear the diffence and enjoy them. I personally still prefer David's version, but that is not to say that there is anything wrong with the others or that i don't like them. i have heard The Associations version several times over the years, so i am familiar with it, Pat Metheny's guitar version i have never heard before and it is beautiful. As i have said i still prefer David's version and always will, this is just my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Weronika2/21/21, 7:43 AM

    Yes, Pat Metheny's version is beautiful, he is an outstanding musician, I'm lucky to know his music bc he really loves Poland and he's performed here many times also played with Polsih musicians.
    In my heart I prefer DC's version too..

    ReplyDelete

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