| Love Is Like Oxygen | |
| Cover: | Sweet-Love is Like Oxygen.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Sweet |
| Album: | Level Headed |
| B-Side: | Cover Girl |
| Released: | 6 January 1978[1] |
| Recorded: | 1977 |
| Genre: | , progressive rock |
| Producer: | Sweet |
| Prev Title: | Funk It Up |
| Prev Year: | 1977 |
| Next Title: | California Nights |
| Next Year: | 1978 |
"Love Is Like Oxygen" is a song by the British band Sweet and released in January 1978. It was co-written by the group's guitarist Andy Scott, and Trevor Griffin, a musician who had played with various unsuccessful bands before becoming a roadie and sound engineer.[2] The song was a departure from earlier recordings by Sweet, which were more guitar-driven, and featured high vocal harmonies. The extended album version of the song (6 minutes 57 seconds), which appeared on their album Level Headed, incorporates strings and has some disco elements.
Their first release on the Polydor label after their departure from RCA, it was also their last Top 10 hit, reaching No. 4 in New Zealand; No. 6 in Switzerland; No. 8 in Belgium, Canada, and the United States; No. 9 in the United Kingdom and Australia; and No. 10 in West Germany.
Later that year it was honoured with a Song of the Year nomination at the Ivor Novello Awards, although beaten by "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty. The song is frequently included on greatest hits compilations, usually in its edited single version.
| Chart (1978) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 9 | |
| Austria | 23 | |
| Belgium | 8 | |
| 8 | ||
| Finland | 7 | |
| West Germany [3] | 10 | |
| 16 | ||
| New Zealand[4] | 6 | |
| Switzerland | 6 | |
| UK Singles Chart[5] | 9 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 8 |
| Chart (1978) | Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 55 | |
| Canada [8] | 63 | |
| New Zealand [9] | 29 | |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [10] | 23 |
