Never My Love - Remastered Version

This was written by the songwriting team of Don and Dick Addrisi. As The Addrisi Brothers, they went on to have hits with "We've Got To Get It On Again" and "Slow Dancin' Don't Turn Me On." Unlike "Cherish," which is often thought of as a love song but deals with the unrequited, slightly obsessive kind, "Never My Love" is a perfect wedding song, as it is about unrelenting devotion: "How can you think love will end when I've asked you to spend your whole life with me?"

According to BMI, which keeps track of such data, "Never My Love" was the second-most played song on American radio and television in the 20th century, trailing only "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by the Righteous Brothers. Another Association song, "Cherish," was #22. The song sold a million copies in America and reached #2 on the Hot 100 (held off by The Box Tops' "The Letter"), but it became a staple of Lite Rock radio, the format of choice for at-work listening, which accounts for the huge airplay numbers. If you were shopping for furniture or getting a coffee, there was a good chance you'd hear the song.

The 5th Dimension's live recording of "Never My Love" peaked in the US at #12 in 1971, and Blue Suede's uptempo 1974 version reached #7.