"The Air That I Breathe"
Side A of UK single
Single by the Hollies
from the album Hollies
B-side"No More Riders"
ReleasedUK: January 1974
US: March 1974
Recorded15 & 22 November 1973[1]
StudioEMI Studios, London
GenreSoft rock
Length4:13 (album version) 3:45 (single version)
LabelUK: Polydor 2058435
US: Epic 5-11100
Songwriter(s)Albert Hammond, Michael Hazlewood
Producer(s)Ron Richards and the Hollies
The Hollies singles chronology
"The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam Mcgee"
(1973)		 "The Air That I Breathe"
(1974)		 "Son of a Rotten Gambler"
(1974)
Alternative release
Side A of US single (Epic)
Side A of US single (Epic)

"The Air That I Breathe" is a ballad written by the British-Gibraltarian singer-songwriter Albert Hammond and the English songwriter Mike Hazlewood. It was initially recorded by Hammond on his debut album, It Never Rains in Southern California (1972).[2] It was a major hit for the Hollies in early 1974, reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart. It was the Hollies' last major hit.[3] The English rock band Radiohead reused the chord progression and melody of "The Air That I Breathe" for their 1992 song "Creep".

Recording

The audio engineering for "The Air That I Breathe" was done by Alan Parsons. In an interview, Parsons mentioned that Eric Clapton said the first note of "The Air That I Breathe" had more soul than anything he had ever heard.[4]

Release

"The Air That I Breathe" was a hit for the Hollies in early 1974, reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart. In mid-1974, it reached number six in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number three on the Adult Contemporary chart.[5] In Canada, the song reached number five on the RPM magazine charts. This version featured a string orchestra arrangement, which also featured a horn section. Record World said that "the potent material gets a super interpretation."[6]

"Creep"

The English rock band Radiohead reused the chord progression and melody of "The Air That I Breathe" for their 1992 song "Creep".[7][8] After Rondor Music, the publisher of "The Air That I Breathe", took legal action, Hammond and Hazlewood received cowriting credits and a percentage of the royalties. Hammond said Radiohead were honest about having reused the composition, and so he and Hazlewood accepted only a small part of the royalties.[9]

Personnel

Credits from Richard Buskin and engineer Alan Parsons.[10]

The Hollies

Additional musicians and production staff
  • The Hollies - producers
  • Ron Richards - producer
  • Alan Parsons - engineer
  • Chris Gunning - orchestral arrangements
  • unknown - 40-piece orchestra (including brass and strings)

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[24] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Simply Red version

"The Air That I Breathe"
Single by Simply Red
from the album Blue
Released10 August 1998 (1998-08-10)
Length4:24
LabelEastWest
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)AGM
Simply Red singles chronology
"Say You Love Me"
(1998)		 "The Air That I Breathe"
(1998)		 "Ain't That a Lot of Love"
(1999)
Music video
"The Air That I Breathe" on YouTube

British soul and pop band Simply Red released a cover of "The Air That I Breathe" on their sixth album, Blue (1998).[25] It peaked at number five in Scotland, number six in the UK and number 17 in Austria. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 35. A music video was also produced to promote the single.

Critical reception

Gene Armstrong from Arizona Daily Star declared the Simply Red version as "a sexy version".[26] J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun felt "his Marvin Gaye-like" take on the track "is wonderfully audacious".[27] Larry Flick from Billboard viewed it as "an inspired, groove-laden interpretation", remarking that "Hucknall brings his signature soul to the track, vamping with glee while the band pumps a mild, jeep-styled beat that is hard enough for R&B listeners but soft enough to tickle the fancy of AC and triple-A radio listeners." He added, "Popsters will soon be treated to a bevy of remixes by Sean "Puffy" Combs and Stevie J., which should make top 40 punters quickly sit up and take notice."[28] A reviewer from Daily Record commented, "You'll be looking for a breath of fresh air after hearing Mick Hucknall's middle-of-the-road reworking of this song which was originally a hit for The Hollies. The band desperately need a dose of originality."[29]

Track listings

  • CD single, Europe (1998)
  1. "The Air That I Breathe" – 4:24
  2. "The Air That I Breathe" (Reprise) – 4:35
  3. "So Many People" (Live) – 5:44
  4. "Never Never Love" (Live) – 4:34
  • CD single CD1, UK (1998)
  1. "The Air That I Breathe" – 4:24
  2. "Tu Sei Dentro Di Me (Someday In My Life)" – 4:02
  3. "Lives And Loves" (Live) – 3:32
  • CD single CD2, Europe and UK (1998)
  1. "The Air That I Breathe" (Reprise) – 4:35
  2. "The Air That I Breathe" – 4:24
  3. "Love Has Said Goodbye Again" (Rae & Christian Mix) – 5:14

Charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[30] 17
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[31] 15
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[32] 35
Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 66
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 82
Scotland (OCC)[35] 5
UK Singles (OCC)[36] 6

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States 28 April 1998 Rhythmic contemporary radio EastWest [37]
5 May 1998 Contemporary hit radio [38]
11 May 1998 Adult contemporary radio [39][40]
United Kingdom 10 August 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
 [41]

Other cover versions

References

  1. ↑ "Session Listing". Archived from the original on 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  2. ↑ "The Air That I Breathe (original) - Albert Hammond 1972.wmv". YouTube. 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "CLASSIC TRACKS: The Hollies 'The Air That I Breathe'". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "CLASSIC TRACKS: The Hollies 'The Air That I Breathe'". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 117.
  6. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 6, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  7. ↑ Nichols, Natalie (Fall 1993). "Creeping into the Limelight". Fender Frontline. The Phelps Group. 11.
  8. ↑ Locker, Melissa. "11 Suspiciously Sound-Alike Songs". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Lana Del Rey sued by Radiohead for allegedly copying Creep". The Telegraph. 8 January 2018. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  10. ↑ "CLASSIC TRACKS: The Hollies 'The Air That I Breathe'". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  11. 1 2 Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 20 July 1974. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  13. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Air That I Breathe". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  14. ↑ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "SA Charts 1965 - 1989". Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  16. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 111.
  17. ↑ "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  18. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  19. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1974" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  20. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1972". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  21. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1974". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  23. ↑ "British single certifications – Hollies – The Air That I Breathe". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "American single certifications – The Hollies – The Air That I Breathe". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  25. ↑ "Blue - Simply Red | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  26. ↑ Armstrong, Gene (13 June 1998). "Tracks". p. D. Arizona Daily Star.
  27. ↑ Considine, J.D. (12 June 1998). "New On Record". The Baltimore Sun. p. Scene 7. Retrieved 8 January 2023 – via Gainesville Sun.
  28. ↑ Flick, Larry (25 April 1998). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 69. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  29. ↑ "Chart Slot". Daily Record. 21 August 1998.
  30. ↑ "Simply Red – The Air That I Breathe" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  31. ↑ "Simply Red – The Air That I Breathe" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  32. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 29 August 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  33. ↑ "Simply Red – The Air That I Breathe" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  34. ↑ "Simply Red – The Air That I Breathe" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  35. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  36. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  37. ↑ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1245. 24 April 1998. p. 94.
  38. ↑ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1246. 1 May 1998. p. 49.
  39. ↑ "Simply Red: The Air That I Breathe". Radio & Records. No. 1247. 8 May 1998. p. 76. Impacting mainstream AC on May 11.
  40. ↑ "Simply Red: The Air That I Breathe". Gavin Report. No. 2205. 8 May 1998. p. 21. Impacting mainstream AC on May 11.
  41. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 8 August 1998. p. 31.
  42. ↑ Phil Everly - Star Spangled Springer Album Reviews, Songs & More
  43. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
  44. ↑ "The Mavericks [2003] - The Mavericks | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  45. ↑ "SAW X (2023) Official Trailer". YouTube. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
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