[6] Terry Kirkman wrote it in half an hour and put it into the live act of his group, the Association.

[10] Like most of Association hits, session musicians were called to do the instrumental track, including Mike Deasy on guitar, Jerry Scheff on bass and Jim Troxel on drums, with only Kirkman and Jules Alexander, as members of the band, participating on it.

[citation needed] The song is notable for having two bridge sections, the second leading to a modulation in which the key rises a whole step.

The Association were singing in lush, Beach Boys–esque harmonies, and they were doing it over intricately layered guitars and banjos and horns.

"[9] Conversely, Terry Watada states, "Cherish was wonderful, its sensual harmonies and simple sentiments produced the ideal dreamy atmosphere for a last dance.

"[13] In the 2004 edition of The Rolling Stone Album Guide writer Paul Evans, while critical of the band and its work as a whole, acknowledged the song "tingles as a makeout classic".

[14] "Cherish" has become a staple in wedding ceremonies and slow dances, and was the 22nd most played song of the 20th Century according to BMI]].

David Cassidy recorded his own version as a single in October 1971 which later appeared on his album Cherish (1972).