The Air That I Breathe

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For other uses, see The Air That I Breathe (disambiguation).
"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
Genre
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).[3] After being covered by Phil Everly in 1973, 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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] 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."[7]

"Creep"

The English rock band Radiohead reused the chord progression and melody of "The Air That I Breathe" for their 1992 song "Creep".[8][9] 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. Radiohead later sued singer Lana Del Rey for allegedly plagiarizing "Creep" in her 2017 song "Get Free." The copyright dispute was settled, and the writing credits on "Get Free" were not changed as a result.[10][11]

Personnel

Credits from Richard Buskin and engineer Alan Parsons.[12]

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 Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[26] 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).[27] 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".[28] J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun felt "his Marvin Gaye-like" take on the track "is wonderfully audacious".[29] 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."[30] 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."[31]

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)[32] 17
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[33] 15
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[34] 35
Germany (Official German Charts)[35] 66
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 82
Scotland (OCC)[37] 5
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 6

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States 28 April 1998 Rhythmic contemporary radio EastWest [39]
5 May 1998 Contemporary hit radio [40]
11 May 1998 Adult contemporary radio [41][42]
United Kingdom 10 August 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
 [43]

Other cover versions

References

  1. ^ "Session Listing". Archived from the original on 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  2. ^ a b Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "Love American Style: Ballads". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 166. ISBN 031214704X.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "CLASSIC TRACKS: The Hollies 'The Air That I Breathe'". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  5. ^ "CLASSIC TRACKS: The Hollies 'The Air That I Breathe'". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 117.
  7. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 6, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  8. ^ Nichols, Natalie (Fall 1993). "Creeping into the Limelight". Fender Frontline. 11. The Phelps Group.
  9. ^ Locker, Melissa. "11 Suspiciously Sound-Alike Songs". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ Savage, Mark (March 26, 2018). "Lana Del Rey and Radiohead 'settle copyright dispute'". BBC. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "CLASSIC TRACKS: The Hollies 'The Air That I Breathe'". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  13. ^ a b Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 20 July 1974. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  15. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Air That I Breathe". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  16. ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  17. ^ "SA Charts 1965 - 1989". Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  18. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 111.
  19. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  20. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1974" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1972". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  23. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  24. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1974". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  25. ^ "British single certifications – Hollies – The Air That I Breathe". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  26. ^ "American single certifications – The Hollies – The Air That I Breathe". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  27. ^ "Blue - Simply Red | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  28. ^ Armstrong, Gene (13 June 1998). "Tracks". p. D. Arizona Daily Star.
  29. ^ Considine, J.D. (12 June 1998). "New On Record". The Baltimore Sun. p. Scene 7. Retrieved 8 January 2023 – via Gainesville Sun.
  30. ^ Flick, Larry (25 April 1998). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 69. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Chart Slot". Daily Record. 21 August 1998.
  32. ^ "Simply Red – The Air That I Breathe" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  33. ^ "Simply Red – The Air That I Breathe" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 29 August 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Simply Red – The Air That I Breathe" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  36. ^ "Simply Red – The Air That I Breathe" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  39. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1245. 24 April 1998. p. 94.
  40. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1246. 1 May 1998. p. 49.
  41. ^ "Simply Red: The Air That I Breathe". Radio & Records. No. 1247. 8 May 1998. p. 76. Impacting mainstream AC on May 11.
  42. ^ "Simply Red: The Air That I Breathe". Gavin Report. No. 2205. 8 May 1998. p. 21. Impacting mainstream AC on May 11.
  43. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 8 August 1998. p. 31.
  44. ^ Phil Everly - Star Spangled Springer Album Reviews, Songs & More
  45. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
  46. ^ "The Mavericks [2003] - The Mavericks | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  47. ^ "SAW X (2023) Official Trailer". YouTube. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
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