The Scottish band Pilot were formed by former Bay City Rollers members David Paton (bass and vocals) and Billy Lyall (synthesizer, flute and vocals). They were joined by drummer Stuart Tosh and session guitarist Ian Bairnson. They achieved transatlantic success with their single "Magic" in 1974, before "January" topped the UK chart the following year. The band followed it up with their only other UK single chart hits "Call Me Round" and "Just A Smile." After that they achieved little success and after the band disbanded in 1978 Tosh, Paton and Bairnson became part of the Alan Parsons Project and Tosh also worked with 10cc. Lyall died of an AIDS-related illness in 1989.

"January" was written by the band's bassist David Paton and produced by Alan Parsons. It arrived at #1 in the UK on 28th January 1975, spending 3 weeks at the top.

David Paton recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: My wife was reading a book and the main character was called January. She told me this and I wrote the chorus with that in mind. The verse was about how I felt at the time with the success of 'Magic'. I didn't write the song in January, it was in October, just after the release of 'Magic.' It was quickly recorded as the next single. We were recording the album, Second Flight, in Air Studios in London when 'January' got to #1. I didn't know the song was #1 until I arrived at the studio where I was greeted with handshakes and congratulations." (Source)

Read also:
American Pie I and II
Music dictionary: Soft Rock - Fleetwood Mac - The Chain