Escape (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story, and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1) & Adult Contemporary (#8); 1979
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Prior to this #1 hit in 1979, Rupert Holmes had already made two appearances in the Top 40. In 1970, as a member of Street People, Holmes wrote and performed Jennifer Tomkins (#36).
Then, a year later he wrote Timothy – a rather gruesome tale of three men trapped in a mine cavein, from which only two survive – for The Buoys (#17). Through the mid-1970’s Rupert recorded several solo albums and produced Top 10 hits for Sailor and John Miles in his native England.
Back in the States, Rupert’s own career was looking up as his recording of Let’s Get Crazy Tonight began climbing the chart in the fall of 1978. Unfortunately, his label folded, taking Tonight down with it. A year later, Rupert returned on a new label and with a new song, Escape, which took him all the way to the top slot.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Rupert Holmes
- Jim Boyer
Lyrics Written by:
- Rupert Holmes
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).