After scoring a Top Five hit with "Magic" in 1975, it is incomprehensible that "January," the ultra-catchy single from
Pilot's sophomore album,
Second Flight, stalled at a measly number 87 in the U.S. The song was much more successful overseas, and the album from which it comes is nearly as good as the group's debut. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about
Pilot that inspires such fanaticism among a devoted few, but the unlikely blending of bubblegum pop with prog rock -- replete with sunny hooks, handclaps, ambiguous cliché-ridden lyrics, and stellar musicianship -- is easy to love. "Call Me Round" would have been the perfect follow-up hit had "January" performed better in the U.S., and the lovely and elaborate "Love Is" suggests the ambitious arrangements of late-'60s
Beach Boys.
Alan Parsons produced this album, and the instrumental "55 North 3 West" veers toward disco while anticipating the music three-fourths of the group would soon help make on
the Alan Parsons Project album I Robot a year later. It's a rare treat to hear such accomplished artists apply their abilities to pure pop music. ~ Greg Adams