Love Is Like Oxygen Single: 1978

Sweet's Glam-Funk Departure Hit

Released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by Polydor Records (catalog number POSP001) on January 23, 1978, The Sweet’s “Love Is Like Oxygen” — backed with “Cover Girl” — was the lead single from their album Level Headed. Co-written by guitarist Andy Scott (with Scott Griffin), the track marked a departure from Sweet’s earlier guitar-heavy sound, featuring high vocal harmonies, strings, and disco elements in its extended album version (6:57).

The single entered the UK chart on January 28, 1978, remained for 10 weeks, and peaked at No. 9.

In the UK, the single was released in a company bag with plastic injection labels, unlike worldwide releases, where many were released with a picture sleeve.

It became their final Top 10 hit and their first release on Polydor after leaving RCA. The song earned a Song of the Year nomination at the 1978 Ivor Novello Awards (though beaten by Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street”). It frequently appears on greatest hits compilations in its edited single version.

Track Listing

A: Love Is Like Oxygen – 3:57 (single edit)

B: Cover Girl

Production

Producer – Sweet

Published By – Sweet Publishing Ltd. / Carlin

UK Variants

7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor POSP001 – UK – 1978

7", 45 RPM, Single, Large centerhole – Polydor POSP001 – UK – 1978

7", 45 RPM, Single Acetate, Single Sided, Single

UK Chart Performance

Peak position: 9

10 weeks – entry January 28, 1978

Cover art for the Italian release of "Love is Like Oxygen" by Sweet, catalog number 2001 757,

International Variants

Australia – Polydor – 1978

Austria – Polydor – 1978

Belgium – Polydor – 1978

Canada – Capitol – 1978

France – Polydor – 1978

Germany – Polydor – 1978

Guatemala – Polydor – 1978

Ireland – Polydor – 1978

Japan – Capitol – 1978

New Zealand – Polydor – 1978

Peru – Polydor – 1978

Philippines – Polydor – 1977

Spain – Polydor – 1978

USA – Capitol – 1978

Legacy

“Love Is Like Oxygen” is Sweet’s final Top 10 hit — a sophisticated, string-laden glam-funk gem that showed their evolution beyond pure bubblegum stomp. Verify catalogue POSP001.

Do you have Love Is Like Oxygen in your vinyl collection? Ready to breathe the oxygen? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia and BBC Official Charts Company

Cover art for Sweet’s hit single "Love Is Like Oxygen," released by Polydor in Spain (Catalogue: 2001 757),

Cover art for Sweet's single "Love is Like Oxygen," released by Polydor in the Netherlands, catalogue number 2001 757.