"Airport" is a single by English

power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ch ...

/ new wave band the Motors. Released on 12 May 1978 by

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...

, the song reached number four on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. On 1 July 1978, the single was awarded a silver certification by the BPI in the UK for sales of over 250,000 units. It also reached number 19 in South Africa on 24 November 1978.

Origin

The song was written by singer Andy McMaster in 1976. McMaster then switched from keyboards to bass for the band's first album. After the release of their 1977 debut album '' 1'', the Motors moved away from their

pub rock Pub rock is a rock music Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as " rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particu ...

sound to a new wave style with synthesizers (most prominent on tracks McMaster had previously written) and recognisable melodies.

Reception

Reviewing the group's 1981 greatest hits compilation, Lance Philips (in the '' Rough Guide to Rock'') describes "Airport" as "naturally stand ngout" and that the "rest doesn't quite match up". Philips also comments on the song's inclusion on the 1978 album ''

Approved by the Motors ''Approved by the Motors'' is the second studio album by English rock music, rock band the Motors, originally released on 5 May 1978. The album only spent 1 week in the UK Albums Charts reaching number 60. Four singles came from the album, "Airpor ...

'', saying that despite its appearance the album failed to be a commercial success. The Motors' entry in the ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' notes that "Airport" has become a stock piece of music often accompanying footage of aeroplane or airports. The encyclopedia suggests that the song's popularity did nothing to extend the life of the band, whose membership changed by the end of the year.

Personnel

*Nick Garvey—guitar/vocal * Andy McMaster—lead vocal/synthesizer/bass *

Bram Tchaikovsky Peter Bramall (born 10 November 1950 in Lincolnshire, England), better known by his stage name Bram Tchaikovsky, is a British vocalist and guitarist. He first came to prominence as a member of UK punk/ pub rock band The Motors, whom he joined ...

—guitar/vocal *Ricky Wernham—drums/vocal

Charts

References

1978 songs 1978 singles The Motors songs Virgin Records singles Songs written by Andrew McMaster (songwriter) {{1970s-rock-song-stub