Your Love by The Outfield

Album: Play Deep (1985)

Charted: 6

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With a distinctive guitar riff and an unforgettable opening line, "Your Love" became one of the most memorable hits of the '80s. When lead singer Tony Lewis declares, "Josie's on a vacation far away, come around and talk it over," we know he's up to something. Our hero spends the rest of the song in seduction mode, trying to convince this girl (probably and ex-girlfriend) to have a one-night-stand. He pulls every trick from the player's handbook:

Nobody Will Ever Know ("Stay the night but keep it undercover")
I Really Need Comfort ("Another shoulder to cry upon")
I Don't Know Where Else To Turn ("I ain't got many friends left to talk to")
It Won't Mean Anything ("I just wanna use your love tonight")

Does he capture his prey? We never find out, but it's clear that Josie deserves better.
Formed in Manchester, England and signed to Columbia Records as "The Baseball Boys," the group changed their name to The Outfield and released their debut album Play Deep in 1985. Like all of their original songs, "Your Love" was written by the band's guitarist, John Spinks, who died of liver cancer in 2014 at age 60.

The song became an '80s classic and the showcase song for the band, which scored four more Top 40 hits: "All the Love in the World" (#19, 1985), "Since You've Been Gone" (#31, 1987), "Voices of Babylon" (#25, 1989) and "For You" (#21, 1990).
In 2013, Saturday Night Live did a skit based on this song where host Josh Hutcherson speaks in the song's lyrics, trying to convince Josie's friend to have an affair. In the skit, Hutcherson is Josie's younger brother. It's a great visualization of the dynamic, as the girl rebuffs him at first, but is drawn in when he gets to the blue talk ("I can't hide the way I'm feelin'...").

Comments: 19

Left High Kick from Middle Class UsaMy ex-girlfriend and I used to go to Denver in the summertime. It was a glorious time. We would go to the Rockies games where they played this song for Charlie Blackmon, we would spend half The time “trying to conceive” and it was something ( trips there ) we always look forward to. One time we went to Arizona after her very first figure / bikini contest, and we were coming back to the hotel drunk, and we replay the song about three times!
Man she was a beautiful woman, Drop dead gorgeous; we were young, we were in love, and we were stupid. I guess I didn’t fight enough for her, but I have to be a man of my word now. I have to let her go for reasons I won’t bore you with.

It’s over with now, and I’m kind of glad I am out of it because it turned toxic, unhealthy. At least for me.

I’ll never forget those times in Denver, I never will forget her on stage accomplishment in Phoenix. Hope you find someone that makes you happy. I’ll never be that happy again. And to tell you the truth, I wonder if it was just a lie now. A Chamaeleon

And these days, if I hear that song I change the station. It reminds me of her and the good times.
Steve from CaliforniaCharlie Blackmon of the Colorado Rockies uses this song as his "walk-up" music, and it is very popular at Coors Field!
Big Dave from AlabamaI laugh at the part where the hot girl painter falls for Tony... He looks like an ugly hobbit frankly. Great voice, don't get me wrong, but he is the ugliest member of the band that parades in before her.
Mark from Brooklyn, NyI always though sting was singing with these guys......or maybe Sting produced the song...like he did with the dire straights in money for nothing.... Am I the only person who thinks the lead singer of the outfield sounds like sting?
Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesSoo true that this is one of the most unforgettable and still played songs of 1980's - at least, here in my country. Almost all radio stations play it. I love both the long intro version (music video version) and the short intro version. One time in 2009, I was waiting for my P.E. class and heard this song played by college guys on the canteen, then after that they played "All the love in the world". Much love for the Outfield from those guys, haha, and it's not bad!! That just shows this song (and the other one) still can attract younger listeners (like me). I also thought before that this song is about fear of losing someone, not just a one night stand... but after reading this page, ok, have to change my mind. Bad meaning but great singing and music. Love this song, nonetheless.
Gino from HoustonI had a little part of writing in this song... You could dub me a coproducer for this album. Naming the album and the band. I had a friend and next door neighbor whom I call Marcus Farcus, and he had the digs for older chicks, but it was just self gratification... and I could be extremely introverted at times.
Marc from -, MdFirst-ever interview with the girl in this video, including what she's doing now and never-published pics: http://noblemania.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-girl-in-video-your-love-1986.html
Jodi from Northampton, PaFavorite song of all time, and LOVED LOVED the SNL skit that included it.... LOVED IT.
Megan from Stevenson, AlLove this song!!! :)
Brian from Boston, MaThis song actually charted in 86 it may have been released in 85 but it reached its peak on the charts in 86. I remember this song on the radio in the spring of 86 along with the Hooters "And We Danced" I often associate the two songs. This is a really good song. I realize that some people might think of it as "cheesy 80's music but I still think it is good. It has mostly guitar in it and it isn't played on casio keyboard or "keytar" and it has a good melody.It is just a well written song with good instrumental and vocal performances regardless of what decade it came out in.
Nicole from Plymouth, MaThis is a great song. I love to turn it up loud when I'm driving in my car. Oh yeah hahaha and it's def a crowd pleaser!
Linc from Beaumont, TxOh this song - my sister absolutely loved it! She held her tape recorder to the speaker of our little radio to record it - probably after she called the station to request it! My parents were very religious back then and wouldn't let her have the album so she bribed the neighbor to buy it for her! We all laugh about that now!
Donna from Las Vegas, NvMy boyfriend's had a best friend for the past 8 yrs. and I've always thought she had a thing for him. The night I met her she played this song at the bar...coincidence? =)
Eugene from Minneapolis, MnI did not like this record for the entire 1980s decade. Now I do. And then I believed for a long time that this was a "fear of losing a loved one" song, but it's about a one night love affair. Wow. BTW I was only 13 as well when this was on US radio and I was living in England just like the band at the time.
Karen from Manalapan, NjOne of my favorite bands.

I will always remember the summer I was 12 years old, driving around with my older sister, listening to their 1st album. Good times
Bryan from Hialeah, FlWhen I got the game GTA:Vice city I heard this song and i loved it including out of touch by hall and oates.I was only 13 years old. and because of those two songs I started likeng 80's music.Now I have a whole bunch of 80's music in my computer.

2/17/08
Kris from Wichita, KsThis song was the reason i bought/played GTA Vice City. LOL just to listen to this while driving
Steve from Torrance, CaWhile this was unquestionably their biggest hit, I've always felt this song is completely unrepresentative of the band. Listen to "61 Seconds" (from the first album), or "Bangin' on my heart" (from the second album) for their greatest moments. The best way to describe their sound is: "Motley Crue meets The Police meets Air Supply". Really!
Don from B G, KyWas this song played on MTV and VH1 back in 1985 and up? I do not remember it. They play it on the radio in Ohio USA now (2006) all the time. The lead singer in the video is very short. He looks like an eighth-grader. It is funny considering the cheating aspect of the song. Go figure.

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