The Air That I Breathe - wikipedia The Air That I Breathe This article is about the song by Albert Hammond. For the film, see The Air I Breathe. For the song by All That Remains, see The Air That I Breathe ( All That Remains song ). `` The Air That I Breathe '' Song by Albert Hammond from the album It Never Rains in Southern California Released 1972 Length 3 : 40 Label Mums Records 31905 Songwriter ( s ) Albert Hammond, Mike Hazlewood Producer ( s ) Albert Hammond, Don Altfeld `` The Air That I Breathe '' Single by The Hollies from the album Hollies B - side `` No More Riders '' Released UK : January 1974 US : March 1974 Length 4 : 13 Label UK : Polydor 2058435 US : Epic 5 - 11100 Songwriter ( s ) Albert Hammond, Mike 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 ) `` The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam Mcgee '' ( 1973 ) `` The Air That I Breathe '' ( 1974 ) `` Son of a Rotten Gambler '' ( 1974 ) `` The Air That I Breathe '' is a ballad written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, initially recorded by Albert Hammond on his 1972 album It Never Rains in Southern California. Contents 1 History 2 Chart performance 2.1 Weekly charts 2.2 Year - end charts 3 Cover versions 4 References 5 External links History This song was a major hit for The Hollies in early 1974, reaching number two in the United Kingdom. In the summer of 1974, the song reached number six in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number three on the Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number five on the RPM Magazine charts. The audio engineering for `` The Air That I Breathe '' was done by Alan Parsons. It proved to be the Hollies ' final charting hit in the US. The 1992 Radiohead song `` Creep '' uses a similar chord progression and shares some melodic content with `` The Air That I Breathe ''. As a result, Hammond and Hazlewood sued Radiohead for plagiarism and won. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1974 ) Peak position Australia Austria Canada ( RPM 100 Singles ) 5 Germany Ireland ( IRMA ) 6 Netherlands ( Gfk Top 100 Singles ) New Zealand ( Listener ) UK Singles Chart US Billboard Hot 100 6 US Cash Box Top 100 7 Chart ( 1988 ) Peak position Ireland ( IRMA ) 30 Year - end charts Chart ( 1974 ) Rank Australia 26 Canada 69 UK 20 US Billboard Hot 100 50 US Cash Box 66 Cover versions This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2015 ) The song was first covered by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers for his 1973 album Star Spangled Springer. Also covered by Cilla Black in 1974 on the album In My Life. Also covered by Olivia Newton - John in 1975 on the album Have You Never Been Mellow. Also recorded by The Shadows in 1975 for their album Specs Appeal but released as a B - side on a single. The title appeared on the CD, as bonus track, on Tasty Plus as well on the Magic Records CD Specs Appeal / Tasty. Dutch pop quartet Champagne included their version on their eponymous 1977 debut album. Hank Williams Jr. covered this song on his 1983 album, Man of Steel. Rex Allen, Jr. recorded a cover version in 1983, releasing his version for the country music market. Allen 's version peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in December 1983. Julio Iglesias offered his version of the song on 1984 's 1100 Bel Air Place. The Beach Boys sang the background harmonies on this version. Swedish band Alien covered their arrangement of the song on their eponymous 1988 debut album. Judy Collins recorded a cover version in her 1990 album Fires of Eden Portrayed by Bug Hall, Carl `` Alfalfa '' Switzer sang the song in The Little Rascals movie. Hollywood glam rock band Spiders and Snakes cover the song on their album Oddities : The Glitter Years ( 1995 ). Barry Manilow covered the song on his 1996 album, Summer of ' 78 Steven Houghton covered the song on his 1997 self - titled album. k.d. lang covered the track on her 1997 album Drag. The song was also covered by Simply Red in 1998 on the album Blue. Jorge González, former leader of the Chilean band Los Prisioneros, covered it as Necesito poder respirar ( Spanish for `` I need to be able to breathe '' ) on his 1999 album Mi destino with the original Spanish lyrics from Hammond 's version. The Mavericks covered the song on their self - titled 2003 album. Their version peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This song was covered by the group Semisonic and appears on the CD single for `` Singing in My Sleep ''. It appears as `` Air That I Breathe ''. This song was covered by the Brazilian country group Chitãozinho & Xororó with Portuguese lyrics under the title `` É Assim Que Eu Te Amo '' ( translated as `` This is how I love you '' ). Thom Yorke of Radiohead shares writing credits with Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood on `` Creep '' due to similarities between that song and `` The Air That I Breathe ''. Steve Wynn covers the song on his 1999 album Pick of the Litter. References Jump up ^ `` The Air That I Breathe ( original ) - Albert Hammond 1972. wmv ''. YouTube. 2010 - 04 - 13. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2002 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 -- 2001. Record Research. p. 117. Jump up ^ English, Tim ( 2007 ). Sounds Like Teen Spirit : Stolen Melodies, Ripped - Off Riffs, and the Secret History of Rock and Roll, p. 149. ISBN 9781583480236. ^ Jump up to : Wardle, Ben. `` Get off Coldplay 's case -- similar songs can co-exist peacefully ''. The Guardian ( London ). 12 May 2009. Retrieved on 22 September 2010. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2012 - 10 - 11. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 19. ^ Jump up to : Steffen Hung. `` Forum - 1970 ( ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts ) ''. Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016 - 06 - 02. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- The Air That I Breathe ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017. Jump up ^ `` flavour of new zealand - search listener ''. Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada ''. Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 1974 - UK Music Charts ''. Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1974 / Top 100 Songs of 1974 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2014 - 10 - 19. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Phil Everly LP Master Release ''. discogs.com. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Cilla Black LP Master Release ''. discogs.com. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Olivia Newton - John LP Master Release ''. discogs.com. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Champagne LP Master Release ''. discogs.com. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 15. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2013 ). Hot Country Songs 1944 -- 2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 20. ISBN 978 - 0 - 89820 - 203 - 8. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Albert Hammond Studio albums It Never Rains in Southern California The Free Electric Band Albert Hammond Other albums It Never Rains in Southern California Singles `` Down by the River '' `` It Never Rains in Southern California '' `` The Free Electric Band '' `` I 'm a Train '' `` 99 Miles From L.A. '' `` When I 'm Gone '' `` Your World and My World '' Songwriting `` Be Tender with Me Baby '' `` Do n't Turn Around '' `` Gimme Dat Ding '' `` I Do n't Wanna Live Without Your Love '' `` I Do n't Wanna Lose You '' `` I Need to Be in Love '' `` It Is n't, It Was n't, It Ai n't Never Gonna Be '' `` Just Walk Away '' `` Little Arrows '' `` Lonely Is the Night '' `` Love Thing '' `` Make Me an Island '' `` Nothing 's Gonna Stop Us Now '' `` One Moment in Time '' `` Room in Your Heart '' `` Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger '' `` The Air That I Breathe '' `` To All the Girls I 've Loved Before '' `` Way of the World '' `` When I Need You '' `` When You Tell Me That You Love Me '' `` Where Were You '' `` You 're Such a Good Looking Woman '' Languages `` Cantaré, cantarás '' `` Sensualité '' `` Y Tú También Llorarás '' Related articles Albert Hammond, Jr. John Bettis Mike Hazlewood Holly Knight Carole Bayer Sager The Family Dogg Diane Warren The Hollies Graham Nash Allan Clarke Eric Haydock Bernie Calvert Terry Sylvester Bobby Elliott Tony Hicks Mikael Rickfors Peter Howarth Carl Wayne Ian Parker The Hollies album discography Studio albums Stay with The Hollies In The Hollies Style Hollies Would You Believe ? For Certain Because Evolution Butterfly Hollies Sing Dylan Hollies Sing Hollies Confessions of the Mind Distant Light Romany Hollies Another Night Write On Russian Roulette A Crazy Steal Five Three One - Double Seven O Four Buddy Holly What Goes Around Staying Power Then Now Always US albums Here I Go Again Hear ! Here ! Beat Group ! Bus Stop Stop ! Stop ! Stop ! Evolution Dear Eloise / King Midas In Reverse Words and Music By Bob Dylan He Ai n't Heavy, He 's My Brother Moving Finger Clarke, Hicks, Sylvester, Calvert, Elliott Extended plays The Hollies Just One Look Here I Go Again We 're Through In the Hollies Style I 'm Alive I Ca n't Let Go Live albums Hollies Live Compilations The Hollies ' Greatest Hits ( US ) Hollies ' Greatest ( UK ) Hollies ' Greatest Hits ( GER ) Hollies ' Greatest Volume 2 ( UK ) The Hollies ' Greatest Hits ( US ) The Very Best of the Hollies ( US ) The History of the Hollies ( UK ) 20 Golden Greats ( UK ) The Best of the Hollies E.P. 's ( UK ) The Other Side of the Hollies ( UK ) Hollies ' Greatest ( US version ) ( US ) All the Hits and More -- The Definitive Collection ( UK ) Rarities ( UK ) The Air That I Breathe -- The Very Best of the Hollies ( UK ) 30th Anniversary Collection 1963 - 1993 The Hollies at Abbey Road 1963 to 1966 The Hollies at Abbey Road 1966 to 1970 The Hollies at Abbey Road 1973 to 1989 Greatest Hits ( UK ) A 's B 's & EP 's On a Carousel 1963 - 1974 : The Ultimate Hollies Midas Touch : The Very Best of The Hollies Box Sets The Long Road Home - The 40th Anniversary Collection At Abbey Road 1963 - 1989 Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years : The Complete Hollies April 1963 -- October 1968 The Hollies singles discography UK and US ( All Labels ) 1963 `` Stay '' / `` Now 's the Time '' 1964 `` Just One Look '' / `` Keep Off That Friend of Mine '' `` Here I Go Again '' / `` Baby That 's All '' ( UK ) - `` Lucille '' ( US ) `` We 're Through '' / `` Come On Back '' 1965 `` Yes I Will '' / `` Nobody '' `` I 'm Alive '' / `` You Know He Did '' `` Look Through Any Window '' / `` So Lonely '' 1966 `` I Ca n't Let Go '' / `` Running Through the Night ( UK ) - `` I 've Got a Way of my Own '' ( US ) `` Bus Stop '' / `` Do n't Run and Hide '' `` After the Fox ( with Peter Sellers ) '' / `` The Fox Trot ( Gold, Gold, Who 's Got the Gold ) '' ( Burt Bacharach ) `` Stop Stop Stop '' / `` It 's You '' 1967 `` On a Carousel '' / `` All the World Is Love '' `` Carrie Anne '' / `` Signs That Will Never Change '' `` King Midas In Reverse '' / `` Everything Is Sunshine '' ( UK ) - `` Water on the Brain '' ( US ) 1968 `` Jennifer Eccles '' / `` Open Up Your Eyes '' ( UK ) - `` Try It '' ( US ) `` Listen to Me '' / `` Do the Best You Can '' ( UK ) - `` Everything is Sunshine '' ( US ) 1969 `` Sorry Suzanne '' / `` Not That Way At All '' `` He Ai n't Heavy, He 's My Brother '' / `` Cos You Like to Love Me '' 1970 `` I Ca n't Tell the Bottom from the Top '' / `` Mad Professor Blyth '' `` Gasoline Alley Bred '' / `` Dandelion Wine '' 1971 `` Hey Willy '' / `` Row the Boat Together '' 1972 `` The Baby '' / `` Oh Granny '' `` Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress '' / `` Cable Car '' ( UK ) - `` Look What We 've Got '' ( US ) `` Magic Woman Touch '' / `` Indian Girl '' ( UK ) - `` Blue in the Morning '' ( US ) 1973 `` The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee '' / `` Born a Man '' `` The Air That I Breathe '' / `` No More Riders '' `` I 'm Down '' / `` Hello Lady Goodbye '' ( UK ) - `` Look Out Johnny ( There 's a Monkey on Your Back ) '' ( US - 1975 ) `` Sandy ( 4th July, Asbury Park ) '' / `` Second Hand Hang - Ups '' `` Stop ! In the Name of Love '' / `` Musical Pictures '' UK only ( Parlophone ) ( Polydor ) ( EMI ) 1963 `` ( Ai n't That ) Just Like Me '' / `` Hey What 's Wrong With Me '' `` Searchin ' '' / `` Whole World Over '' 1965 `` If I Needed Someone '' / `` I 've Got a Way of My Own '' `` Son of a Rotten Gambler '' / `` Layin ' to the Music '' 1976 `` Boulder to Birmingham '' / `` Crocodile Woman ( She Bites ) '' `` Star '' / `` Love is the Thing '' `` Daddy Do n't Mind '' / `` C'Mon '' `` Wiggle That Whotsit '' / `` Corrine '' 1977 `` Hello to Romance '' / `` 48 Hour Parole '' `` Amnesty '' / `` Crossfire '' 1979 `` Something to Live For '' / `` Song of the Sun '' 1980 `` Soldier 's Song '' / `` Draggin ' My Heels '' `` Heartbeat '' / `` Take Your Time ( new version ) '' 1981 `` Holliedaze ( A Medley ) '' / `` Holliepops ( A Medley ) '' `` Take My Love and Run '' / `` Driver '' 1985 `` Too Many Hearts Get Broken '' / `` You 're All Woman '' `` This Is It '' / `` You Gave Me Strength '' `` Reunion of the Heart '' / `` Too Many Hearts Get Broken '' `` Find Me a Family '' / `` No Rules '' `` The Woman I Love '' / `` Purple Rain ( Live Version ) '' 2005 `` Hope '' / `` Shine On Me '' US only ( Imperial ) ( Epic ) ( Atlantic ) 1967 `` Pay You Back With Interest '' / `` Whatcha Gonna Do ' Bout It '' `` Just One Look '' / `` Running Through the Night '' `` Dear Eloise '' / `` When Your Light 's Turned On '' `` If I Needed Someone '' / `` Yes I Will '' 1968 `` Do the Best You Can '' / `` Elevated Observations '' 1971 `` Survival of the Fittest '' / `` Man Without a Heart '' 1972 `` Long Dark Road '' / `` Indian Girl '' 1973 `` Jesus Was a Crossmaker '' / `` I Had a Dream '' `` Slow Down '' / `` Wo n't We Feel Good '' `` Do n't Let Me Down '' / `` Layin ' to the Music '' `` Another Night '' / `` Time Machine Jive '' 1976 `` Write On '' / `` Crocodile Woman ( She Bites ) '' 1977 `` Draggin ' My Heels '' / `` I Wo n't Move Over '' 1978 `` Writing on the Wall '' / `` Burn Out '' `` If the Lights Go Out '' / `` Someone Else 's Eyes '' `` Casualty '' / `` Someone Else 's Eyes '' Italy only ( Parlophon ) 1967 `` Non Prego Per Me '' / `` Devi Avere Fiducia in Me '' `` Kill Me Quick '' / `` We 're Alive '' See also Discography Band members Julio Iglesias Discography Studio albums Yo canto ( 1969 ) Un canto a Galicia ( 1972 ) Soy ( 1973 ) A flor de piel ( 1974 ) Viens m'embrasser ( 1974 ) A México ( 1975 ) El amor ( 1975 ) America ( 1976 ) A mis 33 años ( 1977 ) Emociones ( 1978 ) Sono un pirata, sono un signore ( 1978 ) À vous les femmes ( 1979 ) Hey ! ( 1980 ) De niña a mujer ( 1981 ) Zartlichkeiten ( 1981 ) Momentos ( 1982 ) Momenti ( 1982 ) Et l'amour crea la femme ( 1982 ) 1100 Bel Air Place ( 1984 ) Libra ( 1985 ) Un hombre solo ( 1987 ) Tutto l'amore che ti manca ( 1987 ) Non Stop ( 1988 ) Raíces ( 1989 ) Starry Night ( 1990 ) Calor ( 1992 ) Crazy ( 1994 ) La carretera ( 1995 ) Tango ( 1996 ) Noche de cuatro lunas ( 2000 ) Ao Meu Brasil ( 2001 ) Divorcio ( 2003 ) Romantic Classics ( 2006 ) 1 ( 2011 ) México ( 2015 ) Live albums En concierto ( 1983 ) Compilation albums Da Manuela a Pensami ( 1978 ) Minhas canções preferidas ( 1981 ) Julio ( 1983 ) My Life : The Greatest Hits ( 1998 ) Mi vida : Grandes éxitos ( 1998 ) Love Songs ( 2003 ) 1 : The Collection ( 2014 ) Singles `` Chiquilla '' ( 1970 ) `` Gwendolyne '' ( 1970 ) `` Cucurrucucú paloma '' ( 1975 ) `` Pauvres Diables '' ( 1979 ) `` Begin the Beguine '' ( 1981 ) `` Yours ( Quiéreme Mucho ) '' ( 1981 ) `` Amor '' ( 1984 ) `` All of You '' ( 1984 ) `` The Air That I Breathe '' ( 1984 ) `` To All the Girls I 've Loved Before '' ( 1984 ) `` I 've Got You Under My Skin '' ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' ( 1985 ) `` Lo Mejor de Tu Vida '' ( 1987 ) `` Que No Se Rompa la Noche '' ( 1987 ) `` Bamboléo '' ( 1989 ) `` Vincent '' ( 1990 ) `` Ca n't Help Falling in Love '' ( 1990 ) `` Crazy '' ( 1994 ) `` Oye Como Va '' ( 1994 ) `` When You Tell Me That You Love Me '' ( 1994 ) `` El Choclo '' ( 1996 ) `` La Gota Fría '' ( 1998 ) `` Everybody 's Talkin ' '' ( 2006 ) Non-single covers `` ¡ Ay, Jalisco, no te rajes ! '' `` Feelings '' `` Grande grande grande '' `` Guantanamera '' `` Hier Encore '' `` Historia de un Amor '' `` If '' `` La Flor de la Canela '' `` La Vie en rose '' `` Mamy Blue '' `` Mi Buenos Aires querido '' `` My Sweet Lord '' `` Puedes Llegar '' `` Quando m'innamoro '' `` Something '' `` When I Fall in Love '' `` You Belong to My Heart '' `` Dulce Carolina '' ( 1972 ) `` La Mer '' ( 1976 ) `` Obsesión '' ( 1976 ) `` Ron y Coca - Cola '' ( 1980 ) `` Moon Over Naples '' ( 1988 ) `` And I Love Her '' ( 1990 ) `` If You Go Away '' ( 1990 ) `` 99 Miles from L.A. '' ( 1990 ) `` Caruso '' ( 1994 ) `` Crazy in Love '' ( 1998 ) `` Mi Manera '' ( 1998 ) `` Corazón Partío '' ( 2000 ) `` Quizás, Quizás, Quizás '' ( 2004 ) `` Careless Whisper '' ( 2006 ) `` Right Here Waiting '' ( 2006 ) `` Somos Novios '' ( 2006 ) `` This Guy 's in Love with You '' ( 2006 ) Usage `` It Never Rains in Southern California '' in `` Moonlight Lady '' `` Dark Eyes '' in `` Nostalgie ( Nathalie ) '' Family Julio Iglesias Sr. ( father ) Julio Iglesias Jr. ( son ) Enrique Iglesias ( son ) Chabeli Iglesias ( daughter ) Isabel Preysler ( 1st wife ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Air_That_I_Breathe&oldid=801877986 '' Categories : 1974 singles Songs written by Albert Hammond Songs written by Mike Hazlewood The Hollies songs Rex Allen Jr. songs 1998 singles Simply Red songs The Mavericks songs Number - one singles in New Zealand 1970s ballads 1972 songs Polydor Records singles Epic Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart called without artist Articles needing additional references from December 2015 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Languages Brezhoneg Español Italiano Nederlands Suomi Edit links This page was last edited on 22 September 2017, at 13 : 52. 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Question: who wrote the song the air that i breathe
Answer: Albert Hammond