Tony Lewis died this week at the way too young age of 61. He was the lead singer of the English rock band The Outfield. I never knew Tony’s name before his death but his vocals soared WAY high and were unmistakable. The band’s 1985 debut album “Play Deep” was a mainstay on my turntable. At the time, a friend of a good friend of mine was promoting music for Columbia, the group’s record label and his enthusiasm for this disc was understood. Side 1 was front loaded with great songs. Let me run through those first four cuts because they’re worth talking about and hearing.
Cut 1. “Say It Isn’t So.” This was the lead single but it barely made the top 40 on the pop charts. A total mystery to me because it’s the kind of track that grabs you and doesn’t let go. I do remember years later being at a couple of Bears-Buccaneers games in Tampa and at every kick-off the Bucs had, they’d play the opening riff and the lyrics “You got me all screwed up” over the P.A.
Cut 2. “Your Love”. This was The Outfield’s most popular single and it got to number 6 on the U.S. music charts in 1986. I could surely identify with the lyric, “You know I like my girls a little bit older.”
Cut 3. “I Don’t Need Her”. This was a song I turned to when in a frustrated situation with members of the opposite sex. It made me feel better, even if for just a little while.
Cut 4. “Every Time You Cry”. A damn good power ballad that had me from the opening chords and one I still enjoy hearing to this day. Put it this way, I have an outline for a teen love story (title is under wraps because it’s damn good if I do say so myself) and for the longest time I’ve planned to feature this song in the script at a key moment.
If Tony Lewis’ death at age 61 tells us anything, it’s that this life is a short one. And I’d better get off my can and write the whole script so I can put that Outfield song in it.
NEXT BLOG- A couple more music memories to share.