"Cherry Blossom Clinic" is a song by British rock band The Move, written by their lead guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter Roy Wood, intended as the follow-up single to their hit "Flowers in the Rain", which reached number two in the Record Retailer chart.
The track was initially recorded in August 1967 at Advision Studios, but was abandoned for three months before being re-recorded in November of that year, and lacks a production credit.
Featuring a baroque arrangement by Tony Visconti, the song, coupled with "Vote For Me", was scheduled to be released as the group's fourth single, an idea that was primarily shelved due to a controversy involving a lawsuit from United Kingdom's prime minister Harold Wilson regarding a publicity stunt for "Flowers In The Rain".
This version, featuring a more progressive arrangement, lacks the string and brass ensemble found on the original, and was released on the group's second album Shazam in February 1970.
[10] The band had envisioned "Cherry Blossom Clinic" as a follow-up single to "Flowers in the Rain", with "Vote For Me" acting as its B-side for release in November 1967.
[12] Scared by the possibly controversial song, and its potential legal consequences, both Regal Zonophone Records and the Move felt that it was unwise to release the single, which was discarded before even getting a catalogue number.
[2] However, bassist Ace Kefford stated made a contrasting statement, saying that "Cherry Blossom Clinic" was cancelled due to Roy Wood coming up with "Fire Brigade" which the band thought was superior.
In a review for Move in Melody Maker, Bob Dawbarn wrote that "Cherry Blossom Clinic" is the "extreme climax" to the album, positively noting the string arrangement on the track.
[17] In his review for the song, AllMusic critic Richie Unterberger called it a highlight of the album, noting the lyrical associations with madness, along with the tuneful verses.
"[25] Rolling Stone critic John Mendelsohn wrote that "Cherry Blossom Clinic" was an adaptation of another song about mental hospital confinement, which has "orgasmic choruses".