Drop the Pilot

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Drop the Pilot is a 1983 song by English singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading. It was released on February 4, 1983 as the lead single from her eighth album, The Key. The track became Armatrading’s last UK Top 40 hit, reaching number 11 and spending ten weeks in the Top 40. It also performed well internationally, rising to number 6 in Australia and New Zealand and reaching number 1 in South Africa. In the United States, it peaked at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for six weeks.

Armatrading wrote Drop the Pilot to be a more commercial single for The Key. After the label asked for additional material, producer Val Garay helped record two new tracks, and Drop the Pilot was chosen along with What Do Boys Dream. The lyrics aren’t about a specific person; they describe someone being urged to choose them instead, using the idea of “dropping the pilot” as a vivid image. Armatrading has said the concept also reflects the idea of people who take you places, inspired by her travel experiences.

The music video, directed by Steve Barron, received medium rotation on MTV in the US. Critics praised the song for its catchy, upbeat rhythm and Armatrading’s powerful vocal performance, though opinions on its style varied.

The single was released in 7-inch formats worldwide and as a 12-inch single in the UK.

Mandy Moore covered Drop the Pilot for her 2003 album Coverage. Moore’s version, produced by John Fields, was released as a single and had a video directed by Nick DiBella. The video was created for Kodak’s Vision2 film stock and was used in product demonstrations.