The Outfield
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 in London, England |
| Founder | John Spinks, Tony Lewis, Alan Jackman |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Outfield was a pop rock group originating from London in 1984. They achieved notable commercial acclaim primarily in the United States, with their most recognized track being the hit single "Your Love." The ensemble consisted of guitarist John Spinks, vocalist and bassist Tony Lewis, and drummer Alan Jackman.
Their first album, Play Deep, was recorded in 1985 and released through Columbia Records. It climbed to number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart and attained double platinum certification in the U.S. The single "Your Love" reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 on the Mainstream Rock chart, becoming their hallmark song. While their follow-up albums Bangin'’ (1987) and Voices of Babylon (1989) experienced moderate chart placements, they did not maintain the same level of popularity.
Following Alan Jackman’s departure in 1989, the band continued as a duo and released Diamond Days in 1991. Their 1992 album Rockeye displayed a transition towards progressive and arena rock styles but was met with mixed reactions, which resulted in a brief hiatus. They returned to touring by 1998, issuing live recordings and the studio album Any Time Now in 2004, which was re-released in 2006. With Jackman rejoining the lineup, their final album, Replay, was released in 2011. After John Spinks passed away in 2014, the band ceased activity.
On March 22, 2018, Tony Lewis announced his solo debut album Out of the Darkness, which was released on June 29, 2018 via Madison Records. Lewis died on October 19, 2020 at the age of 62.
History
Formation and early success (1984–1986)
In the late 1970s, bassist and vocalist Tony Lewis, guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter John Spinks, and drummer Alan Jackman performed together in a power pop outfit named Sirius B. Their musical direction conflicted with the emerging punk rock scene in England at that time, leading to the band's dissolution after several performances. The trio later reunited as the Baseball Boys in London’s East End, continuing to play until a demo recording secured them a contract with Columbia/CBS Records in 1984.
The band's name was inspired by a teenage gang featured in the cult movie The Warriors, initially chosen by Spinks as a joke. Although Columbia liked this name, their American manager recommended a similar moniker that conveyed comparable energy, resulting in The Outfield. Spinks described the name as “the most left-wing thing we liked.” Despite initially being unfamiliar with baseball, Spinks had an interest in both baseball and soccer (association football), appreciating that American sports presented more spectacle compared to British football.
Play Deep
Their debut album Play Deep, produced by William Wittman and released in 1985, achieved triple platinum certification and reached the top ten on U.S. album charts. It included their top ten hit "Your Love," which peaked at number six and has since been frequently covered and remixed. To promote the album, they embarked on extensive tours supporting Journey and Starship. Spinks highlighted the band’s wholesome image by stating they were “completely committed to avoiding smoking or drug use.”
Bangin’
Issued in 1987, Bangin marked the band's sophomore album. Although it did not achieve the same level of success as Play Deep, it featured the top 40 hit "Since You've Been Gone", which climbed to No. 11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. The record also yielded the modest radio and MTV favorite "No Surrender" and earned a gold certification in the United States. To promote the album, the band embarked on a U.S. summer tour as the opening act for Night Ranger.
Voices of Babylon
For their third studio effort, 1989's Voices of Babylon, The Outfield collaborated with a new producer, David Kahne, and embraced a refreshed musical style. The album’s title track became a top 25 hit and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. The subsequent single, "My Paradise", peaked at No. 34 on the same chart; however, the album experienced an overall decline in mainstream popularity.
Diamond Days
After Voices of Babylon, drummer Alan Jackman departed and was replaced on tour by Paul Read. Founding members Spinks and Lewis continued as a duo, transitioned to MCA Records, and recorded Diamond Days with session drummer Simon Dawson. Released in 1990, this album featured the top 30 U.S. single "For You" as well as "One Hot Country," which appeared on the soundtrack for the 1991 movie If Looks Could Kill.
Later years and aftermath
In 1992, The Outfield released Rockeye, whose lead single "Closer to Me" narrowly missed entering the top 40. Its follow-up track, "Winning It All," gained significant exposure through repeated use during the NBA Finals, NBA Superstars, the 1992 Summer Olympics, Chicago Bulls championship celebrations, and in the film The Mighty Ducks. Simon Dawson officially joined as a full band member during this period. Despite these successes, changing musical trends in the mid-1990s—particularly grunge’s ascent led by bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam—posed challenges to their commercial relevance.
Returning to their East End origins, The Outfield began performing in smaller venues with less recognition than they had enjoyed in the U.S. They released a fan-exclusive album titled It Ain't Over...'’, resumed touring activities, and in 1999 issued Extra Innings, a collection of previously unreleased material.
During the early 2000s, two live albums were independently released through their website: Live in Brazil and The Outfield Live. In 2004, they issued the studio album Any Time Now via Tower Records; it was re-released in 2006 by Sidewinder Records.
In 2009, the original lineup reunited to record their first joint project since 1988’s Voices of Babylon. Under management by Brent Bitner, they established official social media platforms that year. Their 2011 release, Replay, partly recorded at Abbey Road Studios, received favorable critiques. The lead single "California Sun" topped regional AOR charts and gained traction on adult contemporary radio; its follow-up "A Long, Long Time Ago" also charted on Worldwide FM ClassX Radio.
In 2013, The Outfield collaborated with DJ Morgan Page to produce a reimagined version of their classic hit "Your Love," thereby extending their reach into electronic music audiences.
On 9 July 2014, guitarist John Spinks passed away from liver cancer at age 60. After a period of inactivity, lead vocalist and bassist Tony Lewis returned with his solo debut Out of the Darkness in June 2018 via Madison Records, co-written alongside his wife Carol. A posthumous EP titled More Than I Dared followed in November 2020. Tony Lewis died unexpectedly near London on 19 October 2020, leaving Alan Jackman and Simon Dawson—now serving as Iron Maiden’s touring drummer—as the surviving members.
Style and influences
The Outfield's music has been described as fitting within the genres of pop rock, power pop, and new wave. Their signature sound reflected an early 1980s American rock influence, characterized by catchy melodies paired with electric guitar solos, which resonated more strongly with audiences in the United States than in their home country, the United Kingdom. Despite their popularity abroad, none of their albums achieved chart success in the UK, and only three singles made modest appearances on British charts.
John Spinks acknowledged that his songwriting drew inspiration from acts such as the Beatles, Journey, Foreigner, and Mr. Mister. He prioritized crafting memorable melodies rather than intricate compositions, stating, "I can write a pretty melody... Some people obviously like it... You enjoy these songs or you don't... They make you feel good."
While critics often considered their style reminiscent of bands like Journey and Foreigner, they recognized The Outfield's clear aim for accessible, radio-friendly tunes.
Members
- Alan Jackman – drums and percussion (1984–1989, 2009–2014)
- Tony Lewis – lead vocals and bass guitar (1984–2014; deceased 2020)
- John Spinks – guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals (1984–2014; deceased 2014)
- Simon Dawson – drums (1989–2009)
Studio albums
| Year | Album information | US | CAN | NL | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Play Deep
| ||||
| 1987 | Bangin'
| ||||
| 1989 | Voices of Babylon
| ||||
| 1990 | Diamond Days
| ||||
| 1992 | Rockeye
| ||||
| 1998 | It Ain't Over...
| ||||
| 1999 | Extra Innings
| ||||
| 2004 | Any Time Now
| ||||
| 2006 | Any Time Now (2006 reissue)
| ||||
| 2011 | Replay
|
Compilations
- Playing the Field (1992)
- Big Innings: The Best of The Outfield (1996)
- Super Hits (1998)
- Demo and Rarities (2010)
- Playlist: The Very Best of The Outfield (2011)
- The Baseball Boys: Early Demos and Rare Tracks (2020)
- Final Innings (2021)
Live albums
- Live in Brazil (2001)
- The Outfield Live (2005)
Singles
Notable Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US CB | US Rock | CAN | GER | UK | ||||
| "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 track) |
"—" indicates no charting or release in that region | ||||||||
| Track Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Rankings | Album Name | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | UK | ||||
| "Your Love" (Extended Mix) (Morgan Page featuring the Outfield) |
2013 | – | — | Standalone single | |
| "Your Love" (Remix) (The Outfield, Diplo) |
2024 | – | — | Standalone single | |
| "—" indicates the track did not chart or was not released in that region. | |||||
Video Releases
| Video Title | Year Released | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Say It Isn't So" | 1985 | Unknown |
| "Your Love" | 1986 | Jon Jopson |
| "All the Love in the World" | David Fincher | |
| "Everytime You Cry" | David Fincher | |
| "Since You've Been Gone" | 1987 | Wayne Isham |
| "No Surrender" | David Fincher | |
| "Voices of Babylon" | 1989 | Alex Proyas |
| "My Paradise" | Eric Watson | |
| "For You" | 1990 | Michael Geoghegan |