The Air That I Breathe

For other uses, see The Air That I Breathe (disambiguation).

"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 Air That I Breathe"
Side A of UK single
Single by the Hollies
from the album Hollies
B-side	"No More Riders"
Released	January 1974
Recorded	15 and 22 November 1973[1]
Studio	EMI Studios, London
Genre	Rock[2] pop[2]
Length	4:13 (album version) 3:45 (single version)
Label	UK: Polydor US: Epic
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)

Recording

The audio engineering for the Hollies' version of "The Air That I Breathe" was done by Alan Parsons in London at Abbey Road Studios. 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 2 in the UK Singles Chart. In mid-1974, it reached number 6 in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart.^[6] In Canada, the song reached number 5 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] 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.^[9][10]

Personnel

Credits from Richard Buskin and engineer Alan Parsons.^[4]

The Hollies

• Allan Clarke – lead, harmony, and backing vocals
• Tony Hicks – harmony and backing vocals, electric lead guitar; acoustic rhythm guitar (uncertain)
• Terry Sylvester – harmony and backing vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
• Bobby Elliott – drums, additional overdubbed tom-toms
• Bernie Calvert – bass

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

Weekly charts Chart (1974) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 5 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[14] 5 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 6 Netherlands (Gfk Top 100 Singles) 1 New Zealand (Listener)[16] 1 South Africa (Springbok)[17] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[18] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[19] 6 US Easy Listening (Billboard)[19] 3 US Cash Box Top 100 7 West Germany (Official German Charts) 4 Chart (1988) Peak position Ireland (IRMA)[15] 30 UK (Music Week)[20] 60 Year-end charts Chart (1974) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[21][11] 26 Canada[22] 69 Netherlands[23] 15 South Africa[24] 9 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 50 US Cash Box Top 100[26] 66

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27]	Silver	250,000^
United States (RIAA)[28]	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
Released	10 August 1998 (1998-08-10)
Length	4:24
Label	EastWest
Songwriter(s)	Albert Hammond Mike Hazlewood
Producer(s)	AGM
Simply Red singles chronology
"Say You Love Me" (1998) "The Air That I Breathe" (1998) "Ghetto Girl" (1998)
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).^[29] 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".^[30] J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun felt "his Marvin Gaye-like" take on the track "is wonderfully audacious".^[31] 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."^[32] 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."^[33]

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)[34]	17
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[35]	15
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[36]	35
Germany (GfK)[37]	66
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38]	82
Scotland (OCC)[39]	5
UK Singles (OCC)[40]	6

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)	Position
UK Singles (OCC)[41]	142

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	28 April 1998	Rhythmic contemporary radio	EastWest	[42]
	5 May 1998	Contemporary hit radio		[43]
	11 May 1998	Adult contemporary radio		[44][45]
United Kingdom	10 August 1998	CD cassette		[46]

Other cover versions

• Phil Everly on his 1973 album Star Spangled Springer.^[47]
• Olivia Newton-John on her 1975 album Have You Never Been Mellow and later on her Deluxe Edition 2022-issued Olivia Newton-John's Greatest Hits.
• Rex Allen Jr. in 1983; this version was released for the country music market. Allen's version peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in December 1983.^[48]
• Julio Iglesias in 1984 on his album 1100 Bel Air Place which established him as a star in the English-speaking entertainment industry.
• Semisonic on their "Singing in my Sleep" single in 1998.
• The Mavericks on their self-titled 2003 album.^[49] Their version peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
• A remixed version was used in the trailer for Saw X.^[50]
• Another remixed version of the song was used in the trailer for Heretic.^[51]
• Belinda Carlisle released a cover version as the first single on her 2025 album Once Upon a Time In California.^[52]