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The Outfield’s story begins in London in 1984 when vocalist and bassist Tony Lewis, guitarist and songwriter John Spinks, and drummer Alan Jackman regrouped after years of playing in little-known bands that struggled to make an impact in the U.K.’s punk-heavy landscape. Initially calling themselves the Baseball Boys, they found interest in the United States, signed with Columbia Records, and changed their name to The Outfield. Their debut album Play Deep, released in 1985, instantly connected with audiences, climbing to number nine on the Billboard 200. Fueled by their breakout hit “Your Love,” which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, the album went double platinum and turned the trio into international hitmakers. Other singles from the record, including “All the Love” and “Say It Isn’t So,” kept the band on radio rotation and cemented their sound as melodic, polished pop rock.
With momentum behind them, The Outfield released Bangin’ in 1987, which produced the Top 40 single “Since You’ve Been Gone.” Their third album, Voices of Babylon, arrived in 1989 and included the title track that broke into the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. This period marked the end of the original trio when Alan Jackman departed, leaving Lewis and Spinks to carry on as a duo. Despite the lineup change, they pressed forward with Diamond Days in 1990, which featured “For You,” a single that reached the Top 30 in the U.S., and followed with Rockeye in 1992, continuing their chart presence though at a more modest level.
The band’s mainstream visibility declined in the 1990s, but their songs never left American radio. In particular, “Your Love” became a cultural staple, embraced by sports teams, television, and a new generation of listeners discovering it long after its original release. After several years away from the spotlight, The Outfield resurfaced with Any Time Now in 2004, a record that showed their knack for crafting accessible and catchy pop rock songs remained intact. In 2011, they returned with Replay, this time with Alan Jackman rejoining the fold, giving fans one more project from the reunited lineup.
Tragically, John Spinks passed away in 2014 after a long battle with liver cancer, bringing the band’s recording career to a close. Tony Lewis later launched a solo career, releasing the album Out of the Darkness in 2018, which was seen as both a continuation of his work and a tribute to his long partnership with Spinks. His sudden death in 2020 marked the end of The Outfield’s legacy as an active band, leaving behind a catalog defined by sharp songwriting and unforgettable melodies.
In their three decades of work, The Outfield released seven studio albums, including Play Deep, Bangin’, Voices of Babylon, Diamond Days, Rockeye, Any Time Now, and Replay. They are best remembered for their impeccable harmonies, Spinks’s crisp songwriting, and Lewis’s soaring vocals. The Outfield’s music captured the bright, clean sound of 1980s pop rock, but it also carried enough weight and melodic strength to outlast passing trends. Their songs continue to find new life across film, television, and sports arenas, proof that their brand of rock and roll has a timeless appeal.
While The Outfield never collected industry awards on the scale of some of their contemporaries, their legacy rests on the devotion of fans who embraced their music across multiple decades. “Your Love” in particular has become an anthem of endurance, a song that resonates with audiences well beyond its original chart run.
Complete List Of The Outfield Songs From A to Z
- 61 Seconds – Play Deep – 1985
- After The Storm – Diamond Days – 1990
- Aladdin’s Cave – Replay – 2011
- All the Love – Play Deep – 1985
- Alone With You – Bangin’ – 1987
- Bangin’ On My Heart – Bangin’ – 1987
- Better Than Nothing – Bangin’ – 1987
- Burning Blue – Diamond Days – 1990
- California Sun – Replay – 2011
- Call It Out – Replay – 2011
- Certain Kinda’ Love – Extra Innings – 1999
- Chic Lorraine – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- Chic Lorraine – Extra Innings – 1999
- Closer To Me – Rockeye – 1992
- Dance (The Night Away) – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- Dance The Night Away – Extra Innings – 1999
- Disraeli Years – Replay – 2011
- Everytime You Cry – Play Deep – 1985
- Eye To Eye – Diamond Days – 1990
- For You – Diamond Days – 1990
- Girl Of Mine – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- Girl Of Mine – Extra Innings – 1999
- Give It All You Got – Any Time Now – 2006
- Going Back – Rockeye – 1992
- Heaven’s Little Angel – Extra Innings – 1999
- I Can’t Wait – Any Time Now – 2006
- I Don’t Need Her – Play Deep – 1985
- In Your Company – Replay – 2011
- Inside Your Skin – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- It Ain’t Over – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- It’s A Crime – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- It’s A Crime – Extra Innings – 1999
- It’s All About Love – Any Time Now – 2006
- Jane – Rockeye – 1992
- John Lennon – Diamond Days – 1990
- Kiss The Rain – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- Kiss The Rain – Extra Innings – 1999
- Lay Down – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- Lay Down – Extra Innings – 1999
- Long Walk Back (From Nowhere) – Any Time Now – 2006
- Long Way Home – Bangin’ – 1987
- A Long, Long Time Ago – Replay – 2011
- Magic Seed – Diamond Days – 1990
- Main Attraction – Bangin’ – 1987
- Makin’ Up – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- Midnight Moves – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- Midnight Moves – Extra Innings – 1999
- Moving Target – Bangin’ – 1987
- My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend – Extra Innings – 1999
- My Paradise – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- Mystery Man – Play Deep – 1985
- Nervous Alibi – Play Deep – 1985
- New York City – Replay – 2011
- No Fear – Any Time Now – 2006
- No Point – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- No Surrender – Bangin’ – 1987
- On The Line – Rockeye – 1992
- One Love – Extra Innings – 1999
- One Night In Heaven – Diamond Days – 1990
- Out To Lunch – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- Out To Lunch – Extra Innings – 1999
- Part Of Your Life – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- Peace – Any Time Now – 2006
- Photograph – Any Time Now – 2006
- Playground – Bangin’ – 1987
- Process – Replay – 2011
- Rainbow’s End – Any Time Now – 2006
- Raintown Boys – Diamond Days – 1990
- Reach Out – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- Sandman – Replay – 2011
- Say It Isn’t So – Play Deep – 1985
- Shake Your Thing – Replay – 2011
- Shelter Me – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- Since You’ve Been Gone – Bangin’ – 1987
- Slow Motion – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- Slow Motion – Extra Innings – 1999
- Somewhere In America – Bangin’ – 1987
- Stranger In My Own Town – Rockeye – 1992
- Take It All – Diamond Days – 1990
- Take Me Home – Rockeye – 1992
- Taken By Surprise – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- Taking My Chances – Play Deep – 1985
- Talk to Me – Play Deep – 1985
- Talking ‘Bout Us – It Ain’t Over… – 1998
- Talking ’bout Us – Extra Innings – 1999
- The Night Ain’t Over – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- The Sound Of Love – Any Time Now – 2006
- There She Goes – Any Time Now – 2006
- They Can’t Knock You Down Again – Extra Innings – 1999
- This Love Affair – Any Time Now – 2006
- Tonight You’re Mine – Rockeye – 1992
- Under A Stone – Rockeye – 1992
- Unrespectable – Diamond Days – 1990
- Voices Of Babylon – Voices of Babylon – 1989
- Wasted – Any Time Now – 2006
- Way It Should Be – Rockeye – 1992
- Who Would You Be? – Replay – 2011
- Winning It All – Rockeye – 1992
- Wonderland – Replay – 2011
- Young Love – Rockeye – 1992
- Your Love – Play Deep – 1985
Albums
Play Deep (1985): 10 songs
Bangin’ (1987): 10 songs
Voices of Babylon (1989): 10 songs
Diamond Days (1990): 10 songs
Rockeye (1992): 11 songs
It Ain’t Over… (1998): 12 songs
Extra Innings (1999): 15 songs
Any Time Now (2006): 12 songs
Replay (2011): 12 songs
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