The 10 Best The Outfield Songs of All-Time
When Tony Lewis, John Spinks, and Alan Jackman played together during the late 1970s, they were a straightforward power-pop group that called themselves Sirius B. However, with punk rock being the dominant music genre of their native England, the trio broke up until reuniting as The Baseball Boys, which later became The Outfield when the band’s manager made the suggestion in order to make them more appealing to more than just the UK audience. When the hype of punk rock began to die down, the influence of The Outfield’s brand of pop music won over the North American fans, as well as a loyal following among their UK countrymen.
The Outfield Discography
In total, The Outfield has recorded and released ten studio albums, seven compilation albums, and two live albums. The debut album, (Play Deep), was released on November 12, 1985, and was the most successful recording of the group’s career. It became certified platinum three times over with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), as well as a gold certification from Music Canada. The follow-up album, (Bangin), was released on June 23, 1987, and since earned a gold certification from the RIAA and it would be the final studio recording from The Outfield that would do so. There were twenty-one hits that were released from those albums, and there have been nine music videos that have been filmed. In 2011 marked the final year any new material came from The Outfield, despite the 2013 re-recording of one of their older singles, (Your Love). On July 9, 2014, John Spinks died due to complications from liver cancer. Since then, John Spinks released a solo album in 2018 that was titled, (Out of the Darkness). it was the last music he produced as he died suddenly and unexpectedly on October 20, 2020.
10. Bangin’ on My Heart
(Bangin’ on My Heart) was a number forty hit on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart when it was released in 1987 as the second single from The Outfield’s second studio album, Bangin’. It served as the sixth single in a row that earned the group a top forty hit on the chart and it was the final song from the album that became charted.
9. Everytime You Cry
On the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, (Everytime You Cry) became a number twenty hit. On the US Billboard Hot 100, the single charted at number sixty-six hit. It was the final track released as a single by The Outfield’s debut album, Play Deep, which came out in 1986.
8. My Paradise
From the album, (Voices of Babylon), (My Paradise) was the second of four singles The Outfield released. On the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, the single charted at its best at number thirty-four. On the US Billboard Hot 100, My Paradise peaked at number seventy-two and it was a number ninety-four hit on the Canada Top Singles Chart.
7. Say It Isn’t So
The debut single from The Outfield was (Say It Isn’t So), which climbed as high as number eighteen on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in 1985. It was the first time the North American audience got a taste of the group’s music, which made a positive enough impression to see the debut album, Play Deep, become a triple-platinum certified recording.
6. Closer to Me
On the US Billboard Hot 100, (Closer to Me) charted at number forty-three in 1992, and at number forty-six on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. On the Canada Top Singles chart, Closer to Me appeared at number seventy-eight. The single came from The Outfield’s fifth studio album, (Rockeye).
5. Since You’ve Been Gone
(Since You’ve Been Gone) was The Outfield’s lead single from their second studio album, (Bangin’), which was released in 1987. On the US Billboard Hot 100, the single charted at number thirty-one and on the Canada Top Singles chart at number fifty-four. On the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, Since You’ve Been Gone charted at its best at number eleven.
4. For You
(For You) was a number eleven single on the Canada Top Singles chart in 1990, and was a number thirteen hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. On the US Billboard Hot 100, For You was a number twenty-one hit. It was the lead single from The Outfield’s fourth studio album, Diamond Days, and would serve as the final time music from the group would realize a top forty hit.
3. All the Love in the World
From The Outfield’s debut album Play Deep, came the single, (All the Love in the World). On the US Billboard Hot 100, the song charted as high as number nineteen and it was a number ninety-six hit on the UK Singles Chart. It was the third out of four singles released from the album and the second-best performing.
2. Voices of Babylon
In 1989, the title track from the album, (Voices of Babylon) became The Outfield’s second big international hit that earned them a global success. On the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, the single peaked as high as number two and on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number twenty-five. In Canada, Voices of Babylon charted at number thirty-nine and it was a number fifty-seven hit on the Official German Charts. In the UK, the song made an appearance on its official music chart at number seventy-eight, which would be the highest chart rating the UK-based band would see in their own nation.
1. Your Love
The debut album, Play Deep, (Your Love) was the first big single The Outfield produced. In 1986, it charted as high as number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and it was a top forty hit among the nations of Belgium, Canada, and the Netherlands. On the UK Singles Chart, Your Love charted at number eighty-three.
Swap #8 and #1 and you have a damn good list. 😉