| Pilot of the Airwaves | |
| Cover: | Pilot_of_the_Airwaves_-_Charlie_Dore.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Charlie Dore |
| Album: | Where to Now |
| B-Side: | "Falling" |
| Recorded: | 1979 |
| Studio: | Crazy Mama's |
| Venue: | Nashville, Tennessee, US |
| Label: | Island |
| Producer: | Alan Tarney, Bruce Welch |
| Next Title: | Fear of Flying |
| Next Year: | 1979 |
"Pilot of the Airwaves" is a song by English singer-songwriter Charlie Dore. It was released as a single in 1979 from her album Where to Now.[1]
The song reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and earned her the Record World New Female Artist of the Year, and an ASCAP award.[2] The single also charted in Canada, Australia, and Europe.[3]
The lyrics are from the point of view of a woman who frequently listens, late at night, to a radio disc jockey whom she calls a "pilot of the airwaves", keeping what has often been called the "dawn patrol". She admits that she has few real-life friends and that the DJ keeps her as much company as she believes she needs, describing her life and the feelings she has2 surrounding the fact that she considers the radio DJ her only true friend. The DJ does not need to play the selection she has requested; she does hope the DJ will do his best along those lines, adding:
On 5 November 1990, "Pilot of the Airwaves" was the final track played by Radio Caroline as an unlicensed offshore radio station.[4]
| Chart (1979–1980) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (KMR) | 28 | |
| Canada RPM Top 100[5] | 3 | |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[6] | 12 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[7] | 66 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 13 | |
| US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[9] | 4 | |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 12 |
| Chart (1980) | Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top 100[10] | 38 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 77 |
French singer Sheila recorded a version, entitled "Pilote sur les ondes", in 1980. Ingrid Peters recorded a German cover version, entitled "Weißt Du Wo Du Hingehst", in 1980.[12]