- published: 11 Jun 2006
- views: 4117859
Albert Hammond OBE (born 18 May 1944) is an English singer, songwriter and record producer from Gibraltar.
Hammond was born in London, England, where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. His family returned to Gibraltar shortly after his birth, and there he grew up. In 1960, he started in music with Gibraltarian band 'The Diamond Boys', which had no real commercial success, but played a part in Spain's introduction to popular music. The Diamond Boys performed at the first nightclubs in Madrid to stage modern bands alongside Spanish rock and roll pioneers such as Miguel Ríos. In 1966 Hammond co-founded the British vocal group The Family Dogg, scoring a UK Top 10 hit with "A Way of Life" in 1969.
He also wrote songs for others with frequent collaborator Mike Hazlewood. These include "Little Arrows" for Leapy Lee, "Make Me An Island" (1969) (which Hammond himself re-recorded in 1979, in a Spanish disco-style version), and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" (1970) for Joe Dolan, "Gimme Dat Ding" for The Pipkins in 1970 (itself a cover from the Freddie and the Dreamers album, Oliver in the Overworld), "Good Morning Freedom" for Blue Mink, "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" for The Fortunes in 1971 and "The Air That I Breathe" which was a hit for The Hollies in 1974. In 1971. Hammond also sang on Michael Chapman's fourth album, Wrecked Again, and worked briefly with The Magic Lanterns on recordings of his and Hazlewood's songs and other material.
If, I could make a wish, I think I'd pass;
Can't think of anything I need;
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound,
Nothing to eat, no books to read;
Making love with you has left me peaceful warm and tired,
What more could I ask
There's nothing left to be desired;
Peace came upon me and it leaves me weak,
So sleep, silent angel, go to sleep;
Some times, all I need is the air that I breathe
Just to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
And to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
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(interlude musicale)
Peavce came upon me and it makes me weak,
Sleep silent angel go to sleep
Some times, all I need is the air that I breathe
and to love you,
All I need is the air that I breathe
Just to love you