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CHERISH, NEVER MY LOVE, SIX MAN BAND, WENDY & MORE – THE ASSOCIATIONJun 07 '03 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line The original members of “The Association” were “Terry Kirkman”, “Gary Jules Alexander”, Russ Giguere”, “Brian Cole”, “Jim Yester” and “Ted Bluechel Jr.”
In 1964 “Terry Kirkman” meets “Gary Jules Alexander” who was finishing up his enlistment in the US Navy. They make an agreement that they will meet up in early 1965 when Jules ends his service time. They first formed a 13-member group called “The Men” but this band was very short lived. The group splits up just after a few shorts weeks leaving only 6 members. The remaining members renamed themselves “The Association” at the suggestion of Terry’s wife. The group would then consist of Terry on vocals and keyboards, Jules on vocals and guitar, “Ted Bluechel Jr.” on drums, “Brian Cole” on vocals and bass, “Russ Giguere” on vocals and guitar, and “Jim Yester” on vocals and guitar. Russ had previously been with the group “The Inner Tubes” and Jim was discharged from the US Army 1 week prior to joining the group. They rehearsed for 6 months together before they performed for the first time professionally. Their very first appearance together in public is at the “Ice House” in Pasadena, CA. Their very first single called “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You” is released on the “Jubilee” record label but didn’t even make the record charts. In January 1966 they sign a contract with a brand new recording company called “Valiant” records. In February they release their second single a remake of a “Bob Dylan” song titled “One Too Many Mornings” and it also doesn’t make the records charts. In May they start recording their debut album. On 4 June they finally have their first big hit with their 3rd single release “Along Comes Mary” that peaked at #7 on the US Charts. On 2 July they appear in concert at the County Bowl in Santa Barbara, CA along with “The Beach Boys” and “The Sir Douglas Quintet”. On 22 and 23 July they appear with the group “Quicksilver Messenger Service” at Filmore West in San Francisco, CA. They next release “Cherish” that tops the US singles charts on 27 August and stays there for 3 weeks. They release their debut album titled “And then…Along Comes The Association” that peaks at #5 on 1 October on the US album charts. Their next release is “Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies” that refers to a nightclub on the Sunset Strip located in Hollywood, CA called “Pandora’s Box” and the song peaks at #35 on 26 November on the US singles charts. Their next release was titled “No Fair At All” that peaks at #51 on 4 February 1967 on the US singles charts. On 4 March their second album “Renaissance” that peaked at #34 on the US album charts. In April “Valiant” records was purchased by “Warner Brothers” records and Gary leaves to study meditation in India. Gary is replaced by “Hilario Ramos Jr.” on vocals and guitar who was playing for “The New Christy Minstrels”. Their next single release titled “Windy” went to number #1 on the US Charts on 27 May and stays there for 4 weeks. On 28 May they make their very first TV appearance on CBS on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” show. They are the opening act at the “Monterey International Pop Festival” at the county fairgrounds in Monterey, CA on 16 June. In June they release their next single titled “We Love” that fails to reach the Top 100. On 5 August “Insight Out” peaks at #8 on the US album charts. They next release “Never My Love” that peaks at #2 for 2 weeks stuck behind “The Letter” by “The Box Tops” on 26 August on the US singles charts. The flip side “Requiem For The Masses” climbs the charts separately and stalls at #100 on 2 September. In November they are voted the #1 vocal group in the US for the year by the “Bill Gavin Radio Record Congress” dislodging “The Beatles” who had a 3 year consecutive reign as vocal group of the year. On 3 February 1968 their next single titled “Everything That Touches You” peaks at #10 on the US charts. They appear on BBC TV’s “Top Of The Pops” show on 2 May to promote their next single “Time For Livin’” and they also appear at London’s Tottenham Royal” at the annual “New Musical Express” poll winners concert in Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England. In May they will also perform concerts in Europe in Bremen, Amsterdam, Brussels and in Antwerp. “Time Fir Livin’” would peak at #39 on 18 May on the US singles charts and peaks at #23 in the UK on 29 June. On 25 May “Birthday” peaks at #23 on the US album charts. Their next release is a total change in direction for the group when “Six Man Band” peaks at #47 on the US singles charts on 24 August. In September Gary rejoins the group and deciding to go back being called by his more famous nickname of Jules. In October their next single release “Enter The Young” that was originally recorded for their debut album in 1966 is finally released but it fails to make the US Top 100 charts. They next have their biggest selling album release and only one to sell platinum in the compilation titled “Greatest Hits”. It peaks at #4 on the US album charts on 25 January 1969 and stays on the album charts for 23 weeks. On 15 March “Goodbye Columbus” peaks at #80 on the US singles charts. The album of the same name “Goodbye Columbus” is released next and is the soundtrack for the Movie of the same name and peaks at #99 on the US album charts on 6 September. The Movie stars “Richard Benjamin”, “Ali MacGraw”, “Jack Klugman”, “Michael Meyers” and others and is “R” rated for it’s sexual content. It is “Richard Benjamin’s” film debut. The title song for the movie would receive a Golden Globe nomination but would lose out to “Jean” sung by “Oliver” for the Movie “The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie”. “Ali MacGraw” would win “New Female Actor of The Year Award” for her appearance in “Goodbye Columbus”. On 18 October they would see their final Top 40 charting album when “The Association” peaked at #32 on the US album charts. In July 1970 Russ would leave the group so he could begin a solo career. He releases his 1st solo album titled “Hexagram 16” but it would not chart and he would never see any solo charting success at all. Russ is replaced by “Richard Thompson” on keyboards who had previously played with the “Cosmic Brotherhood” and have his own group called “The Richard Thompson Trio”. On 22 August “The Association Live” peaks at #79 on the US album charts. Their next release is “Stop Your Motor” that peaks at #158 on the US album charts the next year on 21 August 1971. In 1972 they sign with “Columbia” records a division of CBS. On 10 June “Waterbeds In Trinidad!” peaks at #194 on the US album charts. The album includes songs written by “John Sebastian” WHO HAD JUST LEFT “The Lovin’ Spoonful”, “Gerry Goffin” and his wife “Carole King”. On 2 August 1972 Brian Cole dies in Los Angeles, CA from a drug overdose. On 24 February 1973 “Names, Tags, Numbers & Labels” on the “Mums” record label a subsidiary of “Columbia” peaks at #91 on the US singles charts. The group decides to disband in early 1973. In 1975 original members Ted, Larry and Jim recruit new members to reform the group. They get “Maurice Miller” on percussion, David Vaught” on bass, “Dwayne Smith” on keyboards and “Art Johnson” on guitar. They sign a 1 year contract with “RCA” records and they release “One Sunday Morning” that fails to make the singles charts. This new version of the group quickly disband. Also in 1975 original members Jules and Gary join Terry and form the group called “Bijou”. In January 1981 the original members minus Brian who was replaced by “Ric Ulsky” reunites for an HBO TV Special. They sign a contract with “Electra” records and release “Dreamer” that peaks at #66 on the US singles charts on 31 January. It would become their final Top 100 charting single in the US. They begin to tour the US on the “Oldies Tour” circuit until 1984. They disbanded again but leased the group name out for use on select Oldies tours. In 1995 a new lineup featuring “Donni Gougeon” on keyboards, “Paul Holland” on bass, “Bruce Pictor” on drums and “Del Ramos” on vocals leased the use of the name and released an album under the new name of “Association 1995” titled “A little Bit More” on the “Track” records label. On 1 June 1989 “The Association’s Greatest Hits” that had been previously released in 1968 has sold over 2 million copies and been certified as a multi platinum seller. In January 1999 the groups’ entire “Warner Brothers” record catalog is released on CD in Japan. My favorite CD by them is ”THE ASSOCIATION’S GREATEST HITS” that was released in 1968 on the “Warner Brothers” label. The songs on this CD are listed below in the order as they appear, followed by the length of each song and then my rating of each and then my overall rating of the CD: 1. THE TIME IT IS TODAY – 2:15 - 5 2. EVERYTHING THAT TOUCHES YOU – 3:17 - 5 3. LIKE ALWAYS – 3:04 - 4 4. NEVER MY LOVE – 3:07 - 5 5. REQUIEM FOR THE MASSES – 4:06 - 4 6. ALONG COMES MARY – 2:35 - 5 7. ENTER THE YOUNG – 2:43 - 5 8. NO FAIR AT ALL – 2:35 - 4 9. TIME FOR LIVIN’ – 2:43 - 5 10. WE LOVE US – 2:23 - 3 11. CHERISH – 3:25 - 5 12. WINDY – 2:49 - 5 13. SIX MAN BAND – 2:13 - 5 TOTAL POINTS: 60 DIVIDED BY 13 = 4.62 OR 4 ½ STARS RATING KEY: 5 – GREAT 4 – VERY GOOD 3 – GOOD 2 – FAIR 1 – POOR 0 – THIS SONG DOESN’T BELONG HERE! BILLBOARD US Top 100 Pop Singles for “THE ASSOCIATION” 1. Along Comes Mary - Peaked at #7 on 06/04/66 2. CHERISH-Peaked at #1 for 3 weeks on 08/27/66 (GOLD) 3. Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies – Peaked at #35 on 11/26/66 4. No Fair At All – Peaked at #51 on 02/04/67 5. WINDY-Peaked at #1 for 4 weeks on 05/27/67 (GOLD) 6. Never My Love – Peaked at #2 for 2 weeks on 08/26/67 (GOLD) 7. Requiem For the Masses – Peaked at #100 on 09/02/67 8. Everything That Touches You – Peaked at #10 on 02/03/68 9. Time For Livin’ – Peaked at #39 on 05/18/68 10. Six Man Band – Peaked at #47 on 08/24/68 11. Goodbye Columbus – Peaked at #80 on 03/15/69 12. Names, Tags, Numbers & Labels – Peaked at #91 on 02/24/73 13. Dreamer – Peaked at #66 on 01/31/81 BILLBOARD US Top 40 Pop Albums for “THE ASSOCIATION” 1. And Then…Along Comes The Association – Peaked at #5 on 10/01/66 (GOLD) 2. Renaissance – Peaked at #34 on 03/04/67 3. Insight Out – Peaked at #8 on 08/05/67 (GOLD) 4. Birthday – Peaked at #23 on 05/25/68 5. The Association’s Greatest Hits – Peaked at #4 on 01/25/69 (DOUBLE PLATINUM) 6. The Association – Peaked at #32 on 10/18/69 SOME SONG LYRICS ALONG COMES MARY Every time I think that I'm the only one who's lonely Someone calls on me And every now and then I spend my time at rhyme and verse And curse those faults in me And then along comes Mary And does she want to give me kicks, and be my steady chick And give me pick of memories Or maybe rather gather tales fromhe fails and tribulations No one ever sees When we met I was sure out to lunch Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch When vague desire is the fire in the eyes of chicks Whose sickness is the games they play And when the masquerade is played and neighbor folks make jokes At who is most to blame today And then along comes Mary And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality From where she got her name And will they struggle much, when told that such a tender touch of hers Will make them not the same When we met I was sure out to lunch Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch And when the morning of the warning's passed, the gassed and flaccid kids Are flung across the staras The psychodramas and the traumas gone The songs are left unsung and hung upon the scars And then along comes Mary And does she want to see the stains, the dead remains of all the pains She left the night before Or will their waking eyes, reflect the lies, and make them realize Their urgent cry for sight no more CHERISH Cherish is the word I use to describe All the feeling that I have hiding here for you inside You don't know how many times I've wished that I had told you You don't know how many times I've wished that I could hold you You don't know how many times I've wished that I could mold you Into someone who could cherish me as much as I cherish you Perish is the word that more than applies To the hope in my heart each time I realize That I am not gonna be the one to share your dreams That I am not gonna be the one to share your schemes That I am not gonna be the one to share what seems to be The life that you could cherish as much as I do yours Oh, I'm beginning to think that man has never found The words that could make you want me That have the right amount of letters, just the right sound That could make you hear, make you see That you are driving me out of my mind Oh, I could say I need you, but then you'd realize That I want you, just like a thousand other guys Who'd say they loved you with all the rest of their lies When all they wanted was to touch your face, your hands And gaze into your eyes Cherish is the word I use to describe All the feeling that I have hiding here for you inside You don't know how many times I've wished that I had told you You don't know how many times I've wished that I could hold you You don't know how many times I've wished that I could mold you Into someone who could cherish me as much as I cherish you And I do cherish you And I do cherish you Cherish is the word GOODBYE COLUMBUS Got to say hello, it's a lucky day Kiss the moon goodbye and be on our way It's a lucky day 'cause I found you Gonna build a new world around you Touch the sun and run, it's a lucky day Hello life, goodbye Columbus I've got a feelin' that you're gonna hear from us You're gonna know that we've taken the world by surprise Got that look in our eyes Its a lucky day, just for changin' Leavin' the old world behind Lucky day for walkin' a new road Just to clear your mind It's a day for startin' a new way Tellin' the old one goodbye Lucky day for gettin' above it Spread your wings and fly It's a lucky day (goodbye Columbus...) It's a lucky day, yeah Goodbye, goodbye Columbus Coda Goodbye, goodbye Columbus Goodbye, goodbye Columbus NEVER MY LOVE You ask me if there'll come a time When I grow tired of you Never my love Never my love You wonder if this heart of mine Will lose its desire for you Never my love Never my love What makes you think love will end When you know that my whole life depends on you You say you fear I'll change my mind I won't require you Never my love Never my love How can you think love will end When I've asked you to spend your whole life with me Never my love Never my love SIX MAN BAND Well, I'm a day at a time I'm a day at a time Well, I'm a seeker and knower In a six man mind 'Cause I'm a traveling man Yes, I'm a traveling man Well, I'm a comer and a goer In a six man band Well, I'm a California man, my instrument in hand I'm electrified On a fast flying trip, dirty laundry in my grip Mostly drip-dry We got the seventeen jewels that dictate the rules And the time to fly, as we're passing by We just got the time to say hello, and then a fast good-bye I'm a traveling man Yes, I'm a traveling man Well, I'm a comer and a goer in a six man band WINDY Who's peeking out from under a stairway Calling a name that's lighter than air Who's bending down to give me a rainbow Everyone knows it's Windy Who's tripping down the streets of the city Smiling at everybody she sees Who's reaching out to capture a moment Everyone knows it's Windy And Windy has stormy eyes That flash at the sound of lies And Windy has wings to fly Above the clouds, above the clouds Who's tripping down the streets of the city Smiling at everybody she sees Who's reaching out to capture a moment Everyone knows it's Windy JAG’S FINAL THOUGHTS: Most of this groups songs were smooth, mellow, soft sounds. Some were slow songs and some were fast moving songs. Most people enjoyed their music regardless of the speed because it may have reminded them of a nicer, quieter, easier time. They didn’t have as many hits as they could have because of timing. In the cases of the songs that didn’t hit really big other harder rocking songs dominated the charts. The mid to late 60’s was just cluttered with many groups doing many different types of music from the US and from the British Invasion. Their songs do not have mention of guns, sex, booze, violence or bad language. It is said that the song “Along Comes Mary” was about Marijuana but it has never been proven. I myself doubt this wild rumor wanting it to be about the love for a beautiful girl called Mary. One key lyric in the song says “now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch” . In my own personal opinion this group and this particular Greatest CD should be rated G for all audiences and all ages. Have a Safe and Wonderful Weekend and I’ll catch you all on the flip side, Ron.  |
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