Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 2623 Date: 02/15/1986
Debut: 94
Peak: 6
Weeks: 22
Genre: Rock, Power Pop
Pop Bits: This British trio first began as Sirius B, but after breaking up for a while they regrouped as The Baseball Boys. Their straight-ahead arena rock style made them sound like an American band and that helped them to get signed in the US with Columbia Records. After a name change to The Outfield, their debut album, Play Deep, was recorded and a first single titled "Say It Isn't So" was issued out. It got some good attention at Rock getting to #18. Next up was this second single and it would do better at Rock hitting #7. The song then crossed over to Pop and after a low debut, the song slowly started to make strides. It would eventually reach the Pop Top 10 getting to #6. The hit helped their album get to #9 and over time it would become a triple-platinum seller. However, back home in the UK, their brand of American rock didn't catch on. This song would peak at #83 and the album would fail to chart.
ReduxReview: This song has had a very long life. In fact, I heard it played twice this past week. Once at a hair salon and then at the gym. Wherever 80s music is being played you can be assured that this track will eventually come over the speakers. While I was never a big fan of the song, I didn't mind it either. They kind of smashed together sounds of various US rock bands into their own power pop and it sounded pretty good. I think it also helped that lead vocalist Tony Lewis had an interesting voice that stood out from the pack. They'd have a few more charting singles, but this one became their evergreen signature song.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: The band's guitarist and main songwriter, John Spinks, is the one who came up with the band name of The Baseball Boys. Apparently, he had recently seen the 1979 cult hit film The Warriors and one of the gangs in the movie was named the Baseball Furies. Being from the UK, the band didn't know a lot about baseball but figured they better try to gain an appreciation for the sport due to the name. After getting signed to Columbia, a name change was suggested. After many potential names were pitched, the trio decided to keep up the baseball theme and settled on The Outfield.
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