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Their albums And Then Along Comes the Association, Renaissance and Birthday are quite good, and of course their hit songs "Cherish," "Along Comes Mary," "Never My Love" and "Windy" are all-time classics. I recently discovered their work and am now a big fan. Does anybody else like them?

I have only ever heard Never My Love. And I only got it cuz itunes recommended I do so. I love that song. Very sixties. Very almost Kinksy. I haven't ever gotten around to listening to anything else. Tho i just might now that you brought it up.

Love "...And Then Along Comes the Association" and "Insight Out." Haven't listened to Birthday, though. How's that?

Insight Out and The Association are also really good.  I like them a lot.

How have you gotten this far in life without hearing "Windy" ? 

They're a great band, they're kind of under the radar a bit like the Buckinghams were.  Or Johnny Rivers was.  Great musicans that had big hits but are largely forgotten today, even though the music is very similar to other bands that are worshipped by rock fans.

"Birthday" is, in my opinion, their most consistent work. There is not one stinker on the entire album. The highlight for me is the love ballad "Everything That Touches You" which was the group's last hit in the U.S. (#10). I definitely recommend it.

I know this is a little old now but I got a copy of "Birthday" and it's fantastic-- probably my favorite work by The Association now. Good call!

Love 'em all ! From the debut release through to "Waterbeds In Trinidad" - all have their moments of pure magic and you really hear them start to mature from the 1968 album (Stonehenge cover) onwards. Sadly, as with a lot of great bands, there comes a time when perhaps enough is enough and the reunion releases ("New Memories", "A Little Bit More" and "Vintage") are best forgotten about - but check out the 1970 double live album for a great selection ...

i always thought they were from london by their accents when they sung but they were really from california  ???

I've only got the greatest hits, but, DAMN, are those some good songs!! 8)

Is anyone else a fan? These guys could harmonize!

Happiness Is  and Time For Livin' are Sunshine Pop at it's best. I saw them once on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City.

Happiness Is:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GAw2PBAuJw

Time For Livin':   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlq7FXj830E

I didnt think much of them aside from their early hits until I heard "Requiem for the Masses" from the Smother Brothers show.

Got the Insight Out LP and was blown away, not sure why but the WB Gold label issue sounds better to me than the later WB/7Arts pressings. Amazing sonics on this record.

The Association were an awesome group! Great harmonies and songs!

Glad to see other fellow "Association" fans here. I was just listening to "Come On In" from Birthday and I don't think I've ever heard anything so joyful and glorious. Great band, awesome harmonies and fantastic hits.  Lots of wrecking crew members played on their records also. Anyone want to form a sunshine pop band with me? I'm inspired lol

As much as I love sunshine pop, my musical abilities (or lack thereof) put me more in Ramones/Sex Pistols territory rather than Association/Sagittarius/Millennium-esque sophistication.

I'm only aware of their hits & "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebie", so I went to check "Come On In" based on your description. I don't share your opinion, to me it was a tad monotonous, the main riff isn't joyful, it's groovy rather. I have lots of songs in my Winamp which I would categorize like joyful &/or glorious. F.ex., "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies or Kirsty MacColl's "There's A Guy Works down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis". Our own The BBs have a great deal of upbeat numbers.

I love "PGHJ". Mind-bending stuff. (I'm not familiar with the albums.) But the one that takes the cake for me is "Along Comes Mary". which i respectfully dedicate to a recent arrived member.  And of course there's a Beach Boys connection, its author being the late Tandyn Almer of "Sail On, Salior" co-writing fame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-hmOoBJFC0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-hmOoBJFC0)

Interesting to see "Sugar Sugar" in your playlist, RRA1. The best bubblegum song ever, in my jaded opinion. 

"Along Comes Mary" is terrific, but esp. done live in Monterey (I generally like the Monterey festival setlist, it's held better than in Woodstock). Speaking of Tandyn, I read somewhere here that his old album got remastering or sth. the other year, including his own version of self-made classic. Would like to hear it.

I'm a fan of "Stars on 45", all started with the Beatles Medley (surely, you heard it), so that's how I found out "Sugar Sugar". It's in their "Long Play Album", at 4:15 mark. Short snippet, but I liked the melody, went to seek the Archies' version & it's been one of my faves ever since.

Come On In ...yes it is a "groovy riff". But it is a fantastic great album opener and the harmonies are out of sight! Mononotous? Hmmm...each their own as they say...

"Cherish" is an excellent song by them.  nice to listen to when everything's peaceful  :)

You gotta try listening to the later albums like "Waterbeds in Trinidad" and "Stop Your Motors", and whilst perhaps not quite in the BB league, when you compare these to their earlier albums its like having "All Summer Long" playing next to "Holland'. Different era, different 'feel', same band at heart...

I listened to Renaissance recently, and enjoyed it quite a bit. Curt Boettcher's production style is absent as he was dropped by the band after their first album. Still, it sounds good and has a psych flavor to it.  The most popular songs on it are "Looking Glass" and "No Time at All", but my two personal favorites are "Angeline" and "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies". If you're an Association fan and haven't heard Renaissance, I recommend you give it a shot.

By the way, Association member Larry Ramos passed away yesterday from cancer, after several years of illness & heart problems. He was 72, and gave his farewell performance in February. At the same show, Russ Giguere announced his retirement.

My dad was a huuuge faan, and I pretty much love their Greatest Hits. Also, "Goodbye Columbus" is a terrific song. Hear it.

I find their sound a tad dated, and i think Requiem for the Masses is a pandering and overblown, but I'm overall a fan.

Sad news about Larry. Nice interview below gives a perspective of his amazing career

http://popcultureaddict.com/interviews/larryramos/

RIP Larry. Aloha man.

RIP Larry  :'(

The Association were a big part of my childhood.

I will be going to see them tomorrow at turning stone casino in verona, ny. Anybody out there going?

Doesn't seem like it, lbb. Hope you enjoy the show. They made some gorgeous records... 

Current line up is terrific.

Yes the Association were versatile, talented, and lasted much longer as a recording group than many realize.  Enjoy what should be a terrific show.  Doubtful that they'll perform Barefoot Gentleman but I'd be pumped if they did. :hat

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of The Association. I Saw them in 2008 along with Gary Puckett, Peter Noone and The Happenings. That was a really fun show. This time it was just them. They will be doing another Happy Together Tour this year with The Cowsills, Mark Lindsay, Flo & Eddie & The Buckinghams. I will not be attending those shows. Next month I will be seeing Mr. Love and Mr. Johnston yet again.
With the Association down to 2 founding members Jim Yester and Jules Alexander the band still plays great and sounds strong. Russ Giguere retired last year and Larry Ramos passed away last year. The group opened with Windy and went on to play the hits: Never My Love, Everything That Touches You, Cherish etc.. They did something that I was not happy with, which was play a few songs cover songs. Wouldnt It Be Nice, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, My Girl... They have enough hits, great album tracks to fill out the whole hour and a half. So that was a little disappointing. As always I'm the youngest person to attend these kind of shows, which I do enjoy that fact. I talked to them after the show for a minute, really nice guys. Totally underrated as musicians and a band. So everybody check out the 2 disc anthology set, you won't be disappointed.

Well Birthday Morning is one of the most beautiful songs ever. What a creation. Stunningly beautiful.

Did The Beach Boys ever tour or play on the same gigs as The Association? What a great prospect that would have been.

I'm really into The Association at the moment – what a terrific band they were. Great songs, great harmonies, perfection abounded. Along Comes Mary, Time For Livin, Like Always, Come On In, Never My Love, Hear In Here, Forty Times, Windy, the list goes on... Timeless classics.