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Pilot, a rock band that kicked off its journey in 1973, quickly found success. The Edinburgh musicians became so popular their fame stretched far beyond their native Scotland. But let’s take things one step at a time.
Early Days and Debut Album
Pilot was founded by David Paton and Billy Lyall. Interestingly, both had previously been part of the backing line-up for the legendary Bay City Rollers.
Between 1972 and 1974, the band recorded several demos at Edinburgh’s Craighall Studios. Pilot then secured a record deal with EMI Records.
This big break came just before the release of their debut album, aptly titled “From the Album of the Same Name”. Around this time, guitarist Ian Bairnson joined the line-up, completing the band’s classic formation.
Chart Success and Hit Singles
The period between 1974 and 1975 saw Pilot truly hit their stride, transforming the band into a household name. This was largely thanks to their single “Magic” which soared up the charts in Canada, the US, the UK, and Ireland. However, it was the track “January” that cemented Pilot’s fame in the UK, even topping the UK Singles Chart in February 1975. The song also proved to be a massive hit with Australian listeners.
Other incredibly successful singles from the band include “Call Me Round” and “Just a Smile“.
By 1977, only David Paton and Ian Bairnson remained from the original line-up. They went on to record the album “Two’s a Crowd”.
The Loss of a Legend
Fans were shocked when Billy Lyall decided to leave Pilot. In 1976, he surprised everyone further by releasing a solo album, “Solo Casting”, with the help of Paton and Bairnson.
Sadly, Lyall passed away in 1989, and there had been no news of him rejoining Pilot before his death.
Around this time, the band itself began to wind down as its members gradually moved on to other projects.
A Musical Reunion
In 2002, Paton and Bairnson decided to re-record Pilot’s original album, “Two’s a Crowd”, rebranding it as “Blue Yonder”. Later, Paton, Bairnson, and Stuart Tosh reunited as Pilot, releasing a new album in August 2014. A follow-up, spearheaded by David Paton, arrived in 2019.
Pilot’s Greatest Hits Collections
The year 2020 marked a special moment for the band’s history when the Cherry Red label released a four-CD box set. It featured all of Pilot’s albums, plus some rare bonus tracks for fans to enjoy.
Then, in 2021, Paton and Bairnson treated fans to “The Magic EP,” which included significantly revamped versions of classic hits like “Magic“, “January“, “Just a Smile“, and “Over the Moon“.
On March 21, 2022, a collection of Pilot’s best songs, titled “The Magic Collection”, was released.
Ultimately, Edinburgh-based Pilot can confidently be considered one of Scotland’s most renowned musical groups. Starting their journey in 1973, they gradually climbed to the pinnacle of fame, with their popularity extending far beyond the UK. This success only fuelled the band members’ drive to keep moving forward and create new music.