The Air That I Breathe

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"The Air That I Breathe" is a song written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood, initially recorded by Phil Everly of the famed Everly Brothers.

[edit] History

It is best remembered as having been a major hit for The Hollies in 1974, reaching No. 2 in the UK - their last major hit single, apart from a reissue of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" in 1988 - and No. 6 in the US. "The Air That I Breathe" was engineered by Alan Parsons.

[edit] Cultural references

The song "Creep" by Radiohead uses an identical chord structure and similar bassline and melody, and was therefore credited to Hammond and Hazelwood as well as the five members of Radiohead itself. It was also the song for David Vetter - the boy in the bubble.

[edit] Cover versions

The song was covered by Australian songstress Olivia Newton-John in 1975 on the album Have You Never Been Mellow?
Spaniard crooner Julio Iglesias offered his version of the song on 1984's 1100 Bel Air Place.
In the film version of The Little Rascals, released in 1995, the character of Alfalfa sings the song during a contest for his sweetheart, Darla.
The song was also covered by Simply Red in 1998 on the album Blue.
kd lang covered the track on her 1997 album Drag.
In spanish, Jorge González, former leader of the chilean band Los Prisioneros, covered it as Necesito poder respirar on his 1999 album Mi destino.
The Mavericks covered the song on their self-titled 2003 album.
Tom Fuller covers the song on his 2007 soon to be released album "Abstract Man".