"My Paradise" by The Outfield

Song#:  3970

Date:  07/22/1989

Debut:  90

Peak:  72

Weeks:  6

Genre:  Rock

Pop Bits:  The title track single to the band's third album, Voices of Babylon, would end up being their biggest hit at Rock getting to #2. However, it didn't fully ignite at Pop where it stalled in the Top 30 (#25). The result left the album floundering and only able to reach #53. Hoping to revive sales of the LP, this next single was issued out. It more or less flopped only getting #34 Rock and spending only a few weeks near the bottom of the Pop chart. A third single failed to make any chart. The outcome was a disappointment following the band's double-platinum debut and its gold selling follow up.

ReduxReview:  This track sounded like something from a mid-80s comedy movie soundtrack. You know, some kind of sex farce rom-com flick that had Michael J. Fox as a summer camp counselor. It would have probably been a Pop Top 40 hit if released in '85, but by the end of the 80s it nearly sounded retro. With tastes in music changing in the late 80s, The Outfield were going to have a hard time keeping up. Their brand of power pop wasn't necessarily in favor so it was going to take something truly great to gain back their audience. This song didn't fit the bill, but it was actually a good recording. The tune was well-written, catchy, fun, and had good production. It was definitely one of their better singles, but by this point in time no one was paying attention to the trio.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  After Voices of Babylon, the band was at a make-or-break point. They needed to make changes in order to reboot their career, so for their fourth album, 1990's Diamond Days, the band switched labels and tried to get a fresh start with MCA Records. The LP's first single, "For You," would do fairly well reaching #13 Rock and nearly making the Pop Top 20 (#21). Still, it wasn't enough to get folks back on board with the band and the album would stall at a low #90. MCA would give them another shot and in 1992 the band released Rockeye. With its first single unable to crack the Pop Top 40 the LP disappeared quickly and did not chart. It would bring an end to the band's major label days. The band continued to perform and record indie albums over the years. However, the passing of the band's two main members, guitarist John Spinks (died 2014) and lead singer Tony Lewis (died 2020), brought an end to The Outfield.

_________________________________________________________________________________