Pilot of the Airwaves (1979) 6/11/20

In my experience, one of the best ways for an artist to get a song played on the radio, is to release a song about getting a song played on the radio.

In 1979, British singer/songwriter/actress Charlie Dore became a one-hit wonder by doing just that!

“Pilot of the Airwaves” is a song about a lonely woman who makes a song request and tells the DJ that he really doesn't have to play it, but she hopes he does, because she is a faithful listener, and considers him to be her only true friend.

That kind of thing happened quite often back in the day (and probably still does to some extent). Of course, radio people could relate and initially, that's why the song got airplay. But the reason it became a “Great Song of the '70s” is because listeners could relate to it as well.

The song reached #4 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart, and #13 on the Hot 100. In Canada, it peaked at #3 on the Top 40. Ironically, the song only reached #66 in Charlie's home country of England.

In 2020, with many radio stations running syndicated, computer assisted or satellite programming, it may not be as relate-able as it was back then, but I have always considered “Pilot of the Airwaves” a “Great Song of 1979!”