In honor of today being National Radio Day, and as a former full time radio DJ, today’s tune was VERY easy to pick.
Charlie Dore is a singer songwriter from England, who reached the Top 20 with this song in 1979. I was about a decade away from my start in radio when this song came out. When I started working at WKSG, Kiss-FM in Detroit, we were “all request.” I did the overnight show and many people called to hear their favorite songs. I remember one listener in particular (her name was Heather) who used to request this one all the time.
What I love about this song is that it shows what all DJ’s hope to accomplish – bonding with our listeners! We hope that when you listen, you feel like you are hanging out with a friend. That’s what made me want to get into radio, really. I listened to Jim McKenzie all the time when I was working in the Parts Department at Suburban Marine. Jim always seemed like a friend. He had a friendly voice, told stories, was nice to his listeners, and funny. While I worked, I was hanging out with my friend.
This was a common theme with my favorite DJ’s. They were story tellers. They were friends. They included me in the stuff they were talking about. I laughed with them. They did radio, as my mentor Jay Trachman would say, “one to one.” So many great DJ’s: Paul Christy, Jim McKenzie, John Bailey, Gail McKnight, Johnny Molson, Richard D., Boogie Brian, Ted “the Bear” Richards, Ron T., Jon Ray, Kris King, Tim Roberts, Brian Cleary, Dan Richards, Jim Biggins, and SO many more! The list of people who I worked with and admire is a long one! They were all “Pilots” of the airwaves!!
Happy National Radio Day to all my radio friends!!
Pilot of the Airwaves
[Chorus:]
Pilot of the airwaves
Here is my request
You don’t have to play it
But I hope you’ll do your best
I’ve been listening to your show
On the radio
And you seem like a friend to me
Or a record of your choice
I don’t mind, I’d be happy just to hear your voice
Saying this is for the girl
Who didn’t sign her name
Yes, she needs a dedication just the same
[Bridge:]
Late at night I’m still listening
Don’t waste my time chasing sleep
People say I look weary
But that’s just the company I keep
Ooooh, you make the nighttime race
Ooooh, I don’t need to see your face
You’re sounding good (Sounding good)
Sounding good to me
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
You’re sounding so good to me
[Chorus]
Oh, I’ve been listening to your show on the radio
And you seem like a friend to me
[Chorus]
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 
This is pure seventies…I never heard this before.
I grew up with disc jockeys that were great. I liked called the late-night guys…they were very chilled.
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I agree! I remember loving this song when it came out. I think they edited the guitar solo down a bit for the single. Most of the time on Sirius XM, I hear the version that fades out at the end, but the version I was always familiar with was the one that started with that Acapella open and ended with the same thing.
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