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The Outfield

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For the film, see The Outfield (film). For other uses, see Outfield (disambiguation).

The Outfield
Lewis holding a bass guitar and smiling
Tony Lewis of "The Outfield" in 1986 at The Stone Balloon, Newark, DE
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active
Labels
Past membersTony Lewis
John Spinks
Alan Jackman
Simon Dawson
Websitetheoutfield.com

The Outfield were an English pop and rock band formed in London in 1984.[5] The band achieved success in the mid-1980s and are best remembered for their hit single "Your Love". The band's lineup consisted of guitarist John Spinks, vocalist and bassist Tony Lewis, and drummer Alan Jackman.[6]

They had an unusual experience for a British band in that they enjoyed commercial success in the United States but never in their homeland. The band began recording in the mid-1980s,[7] and released their first album, Play Deep, in 1985 through Columbia Records. The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200 list and then reached double platinum in the United States.[8] The band's single "Your Love" reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as No. 7 on the Mainstream Rock chart,[8] and it became their signature song. The band continued to record and tour through the 1980s and then into the early 1990s.[7] While subsequent albums Bangin' (1987) and Voices of Babylon (1989) saw some chart successes, the group's popularity waned.[6]

After drummer Alan Jackman left in 1989, the Outfield became a duo and recorded Diamond Days in 1991.[6] Following the disappointing response to their 1992 album Rockeye, which represented a shift towards progressive rock and arena rock,[9] the group essentially disbanded in the 1990s.[7] They resumed touring in 1998, and thereafter released two live albums via their website, along with a new studio album, Any Time Now in 2004, which was later re-released in 2006.[10] In 2011, the band released their final album, Replay, with original drummer Alan Jackman re-joining the band. Spinks died in 2014 after which the group officially disbanded. On 22 March 2018, lead singer/bassist Tony Lewis announced a solo album called Out of the Darkness, which was released on 29 June 2018 through Madison Records.[11] Lewis died on 19 October 2020, aged 62.[12] As of 2024, Jackman and Simon Dawson (who replaced Jackman in 1989 and stayed with the band until Jackman's return in 2009), are the last surviving members of the band.

History

[edit]

Formation and commercial success (1984–1986)

[edit]

Bassist/singer Tony Lewis, guitarist/keyboardist and songwriter John Spinks and drummer Alan Jackman played together in the late 1970s in a power pop band called Sirius B. After rehearsing for about six months and playing several gigs, their style did not match the punk rock that was surging in popularity in England and they broke up.[13] Several years afterward, the three gathered back together in London's East End under the name the Baseball Boys. They performed in and around England until a demo got them signed to Columbia/CBS Records in 1984.[14]

Spinks adopted the name 'Baseball Boys' from a teen gang called "The Baseball Furies" in the cult film The Warriors, a movie that he had just seen. Although he used the name as a joke and "just to be outrageous",[15] record company people responded favourably. The band got a reputation as a very "American-sounding" group and signed in the United States after playing for just a few months in England. Their manager, an American living in England, recommended a new band name with a similar attitude since 'Baseball Boys' seemed too "tacky" and "tongue-in-cheek". Spinks has said, "The Outfield was the most left-wing kind of thing we liked."[14]

Spinks expressed an interest in baseball, while also being a devoted fan of association football. He claimed that the group "didn't know what an outfield was" until they visited the U.S., and that, "We're just learning about baseball. It's an acquired taste and we're trying to acquire a taste for it."[15] He expounded upon this in a Chicago Tribune piece:

The thing about American sports – baseball and football – is that they're far more show business, far more a spectacle, than British sports. In England, it's just sort of everyday soccer matches. You get 30,000 people in the freezing cold in the middle of winter watching guys chase around in mud. In America, you have the sunny days, and the baseball diamond is really nicely laid out. In England, you'd see these guys covered in mud within 10 minutes. It's not such a nice spectacle to watch.[14]

Play Deep

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Their debut album, Play Deep produced by William Wittman, was issued in 1985 and was a success.[6] The album reached triple platinum sales status and the top 10 in the US album charts; it also featured a top 10 single entry with "Your Love", which peaked at No. 6. It went on to be featured in a number of 80s-themed compilation albums,[16] and over 1,000 covers and remixes by other artists have been released physically and/or online.[1] The band toured extensively, opening for Journey and Starship. Spinks made a point of mentioning in interviews that the band was "totally into not smoking or doing drugs".[14]

Bangin’

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1987 saw the release of their second album, Bangin'.[6] This album did not achieve the acclaim of Play Deep, but it did spawn a top 40 single, "Since You've Been Gone" (not to be confused with the 1970s Rainbow and Head East hit of the same name), which also hit No. 11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Furthermore, they had a minor radio/MTV hit with "No Surrender". The album sold reasonably well and was certified gold in the United States. A US summer tour opening for Night Ranger followed.

Voices of Babylon

[edit]

For the group's third album, 1989's Voices of Babylon, a new producer (David Kahne) and sound was evident.[6] The title track was a top 25 single and hit No. 2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. The follow-up song, "My Paradise", was a mid-sized album-rock hit reaching No. 34 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart, but overall the group's popularity continued to decline.[6]

Diamond Days

[edit]

After the Babylon LP, Alan Jackman parted ways with the band and was replaced for a concert tour by Paul Read. Spinks and Lewis continued as a duo, switched labels and began recording Diamond Days for MCA.[6] Playing drums on the disc was session drummer Simon Dawson. The LP, released in 1990, produced a top 30 US hit, "For You". Quick to follow was "One Hot Country", included on the soundtrack to the 1991 action film If Looks Could Kill.

Later years and aftermath

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The Outfield returned with 1992's Rockeye. Its leadoff single, "Closer to Me", was a near top 40 hit, and a second release, "Winning It All", gained some notice due to extensive play during NBC's NBA Finals coverage, the NBA Superstars series featuring Larry Bird, the 1992 Summer Olympics, Chicago Bulls championship ring ceremonies and the film The Mighty Ducks. Simon Dawson, who played on Rockeye, would eventually become the band's official third member. The band took an extended hiatus during the mid-1990s as changing musical fashions, especially the popularity of edgier bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, made life difficult for older bands with a less fashionable aesthetic.

The Outfield returned to their East End roots, and often played low-key gigs at a local pub, where much of the clientele were unaware that the group had sold millions of records in the US. Unfortunately, this situation was typical of the problems the Outfield had faced in their homeland: little recognition and a much smaller following than they had experienced in the US. Nevertheless, the band would reappear with a fan-club-only release, entitled It Ain't Over..., and resume touring. Soon thereafter, in 1999, they released Extra Innings, an odds-and-ends compilation of new and older, unreleased songs.

In the early 2000s, the band issued two live collections via their official website: Live in Brazil and The Outfield Live. In 2004, the band released Any Time Now, a new studio album, through Tower Records, and later released a new version of the album in March 2006 through Sidewinder Records.

In 2009, the original line up of John Spinks, Tony Lewis and Alan Jackman returned to a London recording studio to record their first album together since Voices of Babylon was recorded in 1988. In addition, the Outfield announced Brent Bitner had taken over the band's management and launched their official Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Myspace pages in November 2009. On 22 March 2011, the Outfield announced that their upcoming album would be called Replay. Replay was recorded in various studios in the south of England that included production work at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Replay was produced by the Outfield and Brent Bitner with executive production by John Spinks. On 28 June 2011, Replay was released to rave reviews. The lead single, "California Sun", was a regional number one AOR chart hit and has subsequently been the second most added song on AC radio as of 15 August 2011. A limited advanced release of the band's possible second single, "A Long, Long Time Ago", reached number one on Worldwide FM ClassX Radio's AOR chart in the second week of August 2011.

In 2013, the band rerecorded vocals to their single "Your Love" to be incorporated into American DJ Morgan Page's reworking of the song, which was released in the summer of that year.[17] Though credited to Page, the single was listed as featuring the Outfield.

On 9 July 2014, John Spinks died of liver cancer. He was 60 years old.[18]

After taking a few years off from music, lead singer/bassist Tony Lewis announced his return with a solo album, Out of the Darkness, which was released on 29 June 2018 through Madison Records[11] and with the help of his wife Carol and their collaborative songwriting.[19] A posthumous six song EP named More Than I Dared was released in November 2020.

On 19 October 2020, singer Tony Lewis died suddenly and unexpectedly at his home near London, leaving Alan Jackman and Simon Dawson as the last surviving members. [19]

Style and influences

[edit]

The Outfield were considered a pop rock,[1] power pop,[2] or a new wave group.[3] Annelise Wamsley of the Tampa Bay Times described the band's style in 1987: "the Outfield specializes in what you could call an early '80s American Sound. It's music by recipe: You take hyper-macho hard rock and tone it down so it will appeal to the over-17 set. You need a simple hook that can be repeated a dozen or so times, lots of electric guitar solos, a standard rock beat and basic lyrics."[20] Indeed, the Outfield were so American-sounding (and literally took their name from America's "national pastime"), they were much more popular in the US than they were in their homeland. None of their albums made the UK charts, and only three of their singles could scratch their way onto the British singles listings (with "Voices of Babylon" peaking at #78).

John Spinks said in 1986 interview with the Los Angeles Times that he was very influenced by "the music that gives me a rush" and that he "grew up on the Beatles". Interestingly, it was also said that the band wanted to be a "car stereo sort of poppy version of the band Rush. "61 Seconds and "Mystery Man" are evidence of this. He also cited contemporaries Journey, Foreigner, and Mr. Mister – particularly the latter's hit "Broken Wings". In that interview, he expanded upon the band's strong foundation in melody:

I love melodic music. [...] When you look at that music, you have to take it for what it is. I can write a pretty melody. That takes some talent. It may not be complicated and maybe it doesn't challenge anybody, but so what? Some people obviously like it. [...] You don't have to analyze my lyrics to understand them. You enjoy these songs or you don't. You can put these songs on while you're driving. They make you feel good. What more can you ask?[15]

Wamsely made a similar remark, writing, "This is the stuff people listen to in their cars, on the way to work or play at high school dances."[20]

Criticism often centered on their generic sound. "The music is hopelessly, numbingly derivative of just about every Journey/Foreigner/Cars cliché in the book — with none of the style that makes those bands special," said Matt Damsker, rock critic for the Hartford Courant.[21]

Yet, writing for the 1992 issue of the Rolling Stone Album guide, Paul Evans described The Outfield as "having an ambition no more complicated than to sound like a monster on the radio. And it does".

Members

[edit]
  • Alan Jackman – drums, percussion (1984–1989, 2009–2014)
  • Tony Lewis – vocals, bass guitar (1984–2014; died 2020)
  • John Spinks – guitar, keyboards, vocals (1984–2014; died 2014)
  • Simon Dawson – drums (1989–2009)

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[22] 		CAN
[23] 		NL
[24]
1985 Play Deep[25]
  • Released: 12 August 1985
  • Label: Columbia
 9 21 43
1987 Bangin'[28]
  • Released: 12 June 1987
  • Label: Columbia
 18 56 —
1989 Voices of Babylon[29]
  • Released: 28 March 1989
  • Label: Columbia
 53 76 —
1990 Diamond Days[30]
  • Released: 30 October 1990
  • Label: MCA
 90 35 —
1992 Rockeye[31]
  • Released: 31 March 1992
  • Label: MCA
 — — —
1998 It Ain't Over...
  • Released: September 1998
  • Label: Warning Tracks
 — — —
1999 Extra Innings[32] — — —
2004 Any Time Now[33]
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Tower
 — — —
2006 Any Time Now (2006 version)[33]
  • Released: 21 March 2006
  • Label: Sidewinder
 — — —
2011 Replay[34]
  • Released: 28 June 2011
  • Label: Protocol Entertainment
 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilations

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Live albums

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US Hot 100
[35] 		US CB
[36][37] 		US
Rock
[38] 		CAN
[39] 		GER
[40] 		UK
[41]
"Say It Isn't So" 1985 — — 18 — — — Play Deep
"Your Love" 1986 6 10 7 37 52 83
"All the Love in the World" 19 19 14 — — 96
"Everytime You Cry" 66 57 20 — — —
"Since You've Been Gone" 1987 31 33 11 54 — — Bangin'
"Bangin' on My Heart" — — 40 — — —
"Alone with You" — — — — — —
"No Surrender" — — — — — —
"Voices of Babylon" 1989 25 26 2 39 57 78 Voices of Babylon
"My Paradise" 72 — 34 94 — —
"The Night Ain't Over" — — — — — —
"Part of Your Life" — — — — — —
"For You" 1990 21 22 13 11 — — Diamond Days
"Take It All" 1991 — 106 — 70 — —
"Closer to Me" 1992 43 31 46 78 — — Rockeye
"Winning It All" — 104 — 94 — —
"The Way It Should Be"

(album cut)

— 106 — — — —
"Going Back" — — — — — —
"It's All About Love" 2003 — — — — — — Any Time Now
"California Sun" 2011 — — — — — — Replay
"A Long, Long Time Ago" — — — — — —
"A Little Piece of Luck" — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
[edit]
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[43] 		UK
[41]
"Your Love" (Extended Mix)
(Morgan Page featuring the Outfield) 		2013 – — Non-album single
"Your Love” (Remix)
(The Outfield, Diplo) 		2024 – — Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

[edit]
List of music videos, with directors, showing year released
Title Year Director(s)
"Say It Isn't So" 1985 ?
"Your Love" 1986 Jon Jopson
"All the Love in the World" David Fincher[44]
"Everytime You Cry" David Fincher[45]
"Since You've Been Gone" 1987 Wayne Isham[46]
"No Surrender" David Fincher[47]
"Voices of Babylon" 1989 Alex Proyas[48]
"My Paradise" Eric Watson[49]
"For You" 1990 Michael Geoghegan[50]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Nester, Daniel (1 December 2009). "Josie Reconsidered: Notes on The Outfield's "Your Love"". Coldfrontmag.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  2. ^ a b Murray, Noel (11 October 2012). "A beginners' guide to the heyday of power-pop, 1972–1986". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b "The Outfield". Rhapsody.com. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Out Of The Darkness: The Outfield's Tony Lewis On Creating His Debut Solo Album!". Icon Vs. Icon. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  5. ^ Stutz, Colin (10 July 2014). "John Spinks, Guitarist and Songwriter for The Outfield, Dead at 60". Billboard. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Evans, Paul (1993). "The Outfield". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone album guide: completely new reviews, every essential album, every essential artist (3rd ed.). London: Virgin. p. 525. ISBN 978-0-86369-643-5.
  7. ^ a b c Proefrock, Stacia. "The Outfield – Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  8. ^ a b DeGagne, Mike. "Play Deep – Overview". All Music Guide. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  9. ^ Viglione, Joe. "Rockeye – Overview". All Music Guide. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  10. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Any Time Now – Overview". All Music Guide. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  11. ^ a b Sadd, Randy (22 March 2018). "Deep Dive with Tony Lewis from The Outfield". Madison Records.
  12. ^ Dinges, Gary (20 October 2020). "Tony Lewis, singer for The Outfield, dies 'suddenly and unexpectedly' at 62". USA Today. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  13. ^ Graff, Gary (28 July 1986). "Outfield gets a grip on musical success". Detroit Free Press. p. 4C.
  14. ^ a b c d Popson, Tom (1 August 1986). "In This Outfield, They Root, Root, Root For Soccer". Chicago Tribune.
  15. ^ a b c Hunt, Dennis (1 June 1986). "Hit Puts The Outfield Team in the Big Leagues". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  16. ^ DeGagne, Mike. "Your Love". All Music Guide. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  17. ^ Evans, Steph (16 July 2013). "Morgan Page – "Your Love" (ft. The Outfield) [Release Interview]". Earmilk. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  18. ^ "Outfield Guitarist John Spinks Dies of Liver Cancer". Ultimateclassicrock.com. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  19. ^ a b Blistein, Jon (20 October 2020). "Tony Lewis, Bassist and Singer for British Pop Rockers the Outfield, Dead at 62". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  20. ^ a b Wamsley, Annelise (26 June 1987). "The Outfield is knocking; will we let them in?". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3D.
  21. ^ Damsker, Matt (19 July 1986). "Outfield Has Hits; Errors at Agora". Hartford Courant. p. C3.
  22. ^ "The Outfield – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  23. ^ Peak chart positions for albums in Canada:
  24. ^ "The Outfield – Play Deep". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  25. ^ "Play Deep – The Outfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  26. ^ a b "American certifications – The Outfield". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  27. ^ "Canadian certifications – THE OUTFIELD". Music Canada. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  28. ^ "Bangin' – The Outfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  29. ^ "Voices of Babylon – The Outfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  30. ^ "Diamond Days – The Outfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  31. ^ "Rockeye – The Outfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  32. ^ "Extra Innings – The Outfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Any Time Now – The Outfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  34. ^ "Amazon.com: Replay: The Outfield: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  35. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010 (13th Ed.). Prometheus Global Media. ISBN 978-0-89820-188-8.
  36. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
  37. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Looking Ahead Pop Hits 101-150. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-211-3.
  38. ^ "The Outfield – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  39. ^ Peak chart positions for singles in Canada:
  40. ^ Peak chart positions for singles in Germany:
  41. ^ a b "Outfield" (select "Singles" tab). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  42. ^ "British certifications – Outfield". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 August 2024. Type Outfield in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  43. ^ "The Outfield – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  44. ^ "All the Love in the World (Official Video)". Vevo. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  45. ^ "Everytime You Cry (Official Video)". Vevo. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  46. ^ "Since You've Been Gone (Official Video)". Vevo. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  47. ^ "No Surrender (Official Video)". Vevo. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  48. ^ "Voices of Babylon (Official Video)". Vevo. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  49. ^ "My Paradise (Official Video)". Vevo. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  50. ^ "The Outfield - For You (Version 3, Letterbox)". Dailymotion. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
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