"Pilot of the Airwaves" by Charlie Dore

Song#:  0069
Date:  02/23/1980
Debut:  74
Peak:  13
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Pop



Pop Bits:  The UK's Charlie Dore studied acting and had been performing in theater before being asked to help out on a weekly music gig. More musicians got involved and soon a formal band called Hula Valley was formed mainly playing bluegrass and western songs. The band went through some name and personnel changes as they hit the club circuit and soon Dore was writing or co-writing originals for the band. Island Records came calling and signed her as a solo act. They shipped her off to Nashville where her debut "Where to Now" was recorded. Dore wrote (or co-wrote) all the songs including this lead single which became a US hit. Her follow-up album "Listen" came out two years later (with Toto as her backing band), but it didn't get much attention. She returned to acting and appeared on several TV shows in the UK and co-starred in the 1983 film "The Ploughman's Lunch." She did return in later years to recording albums with the last being released in 2011. "Pilot..." remains her only song to hit the chart. Not a one-hit wonder by my definition, but very close!

ReduxReview:  This one was a surprise. Never heard the song and never heard of her, which seems odd since it did just miss the Top 10. She's not a vocal powerhouse, but she does know how to write a song and I like this one. Now maybe if the Starland Vocal Band had gotten a-hold of this, their post-"Afternoon Delight" might have lasted a bit longer!

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) Although she didn't do much recording herself, she wrote/co-wrote songs for other artist such as "Strut" by Sheena Easton and songs done by Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Lisa Stansfield, and Barry Manilow. 2) For her second album, Dore recorded the song "You Should Hear." A year later, the title would get expanded and become a huge hit for Melissa Manchester - "You Should Hear How She Talks About You."

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