The Association: Just the Right Sound

IN DECEMBER 1999, the American performing rights company, BMI, published a survey of the most air-played songs of the 20th century. Top of the list was 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin''. More of a surprise was Number 2, The Association's 'Never My Love' – never a hit here, but something a British listener would certainly recognise and, once smitten by, is hard to forget. The pop song as healing reverie, its lilting mood captures a state of idealised romance and its melody is spine-tingling (and, by the way, almost appropriated by U2 on their recent single, 'Walk On'). Not all The Association's work was that good. But they did achieve many superior moments of sweet harmony during the nine LPs represented here.