The Way It Is (Bruce Hornsby album)
Encyclopedia
The Way It Is is Bruce Hornsby
and the Range's debut album, released in 1986. Led by its hit title track, the album went on to achieve multi-platinum status and helped the group to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist
. Other hits from the album include "Mandolin Rain
" and "Every Little Kiss". Fellow musician Huey Lewis
is also featured on the album, lending his harmonica
and vocal talents to the track, "Down the Road Tonight". Lewis also helped produce the song, along with the track, "The Long Race" and "The River Runs Low".
The cover features a segment of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
.
In Japan, The Way It Is Tour, consisting of live performances of six songs from the album, was released for promotional purposes. The now out-of-print album was made available on vinyl and Compact Disc.
and John Hornsby
, except as noted
The opening of "Every Little Kiss" features an extended quotation of Charles Ives
' second piano sonata
.
Singles
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
and the Range's debut album, released in 1986. Led by its hit title track, the album went on to achieve multi-platinum status and helped the group to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist
Grammy Award for Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967...
. Other hits from the album include "Mandolin Rain
Mandolin Rain
"Mandolin Rain" is the third track of The Way It Is, the debut album and commercial zenith for Bruce Hornsby and the Range. The song, released in late 1986, was a #4 hit single for the band in March 1987, following on the success of their previous single, the #1 hit and title track of their debut...
" and "Every Little Kiss". Fellow musician Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
is also featured on the album, lending his harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
and vocal talents to the track, "Down the Road Tonight". Lewis also helped produce the song, along with the track, "The Long Race" and "The River Runs Low".
The cover features a segment of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a long fixed link crossing the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and connecting the Delmarva Peninsula's Eastern Shore of Virginia with Virginia Beach and the metropolitan area of Hampton Roads, Virginia...
.
In Japan, The Way It Is Tour, consisting of live performances of six songs from the album, was released for promotional purposes. The now out-of-print album was made available on vinyl and Compact Disc.
Track listing
All songs written by Bruce HornsbyBruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
and John Hornsby
John Hornsby
John Hornsby is an American composer, musician and actor. He is a brother of musician and composer Bruce Hornsby, and the two have collaborated often....
, except as noted
- "On the Western Skyline" – 4:42
- "Every Little KissEvery Little KissEvery Little Kiss was the title of a song recorded by Bruce Hornsby and the Range. It was released in May 1986 as the lead single off their 1986 album The Way It Is. The song was originally released as their debut single in early 1986. It peaked at number 72 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and at...
" – 5:48 (Bruce Hornsby) - "Mandolin RainMandolin Rain"Mandolin Rain" is the third track of The Way It Is, the debut album and commercial zenith for Bruce Hornsby and the Range. The song, released in late 1986, was a #4 hit single for the band in March 1987, following on the success of their previous single, the #1 hit and title track of their debut...
" – 5:19 - "The Long Race" – 4:25
- "The Way It Is" – 4:58 (Bruce Hornsby)
- "Down the Road Tonight" – 4:26
- "The Wild Frontier" – 4:04
- "The River Runs Low" – 4:27
- "The Red Plains" – 5:03
The opening of "Every Little Kiss" features an extended quotation of Charles Ives
Charles Ives
Charles Edward Ives was an American modernist composer. He is one of the first American composers of international renown, though Ives' music was largely ignored during his life, and many of his works went unperformed for many years. Over time, Ives came to be regarded as an "American Original"...
' second piano sonata
Piano Sonata No. 2 (Ives)
The Piano Sonata No. 2, Concord, Mass., 1840–60 by Charles Ives, commonly known as the Concord Sonata, is one of the composer's best-known and most highly regarded pieces....
.
The Way It Is Live Tour Tracklistings
- Every Little Kiss
- The Long Race
- The Way It Is (intro)
- The Way It Is
- Mandolin Rain
- Red Plains
- On the Western Skyline
Bruce Hornsby & The Range
- Bruce HornsbyBruce HornsbyBruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
– vocals, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, hammered dulcimerHammered dulcimerThe hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist.... - David MansfieldDavid MansfieldDavid Mansfield is an American violinist, mandolin player, guitarist, pedal steel guitar player, and composer....
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello.... - George Marinelli - acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
, vocals - Joe PuertaJoe PuertaJoe Puerta is the bassist/vocalist and co-founder of the American rock group Ambrosia. He is credited with co-writing one of their earlier hits, Holdin' On To Yesterday . Puerta is also credited with forming Bruce Hornsby and the Range. He currently lives in Milwaukee, WI.-External links:* * *...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - John MoloJohn MoloJohn Molo , is an American rock and jazz drummer and percussionist. He has played with a variety of bands, combos, and soloists, including Bruce Hornsby and the Range, The Other Ones, Phil Lesh and Friends, Delaney Bramlett, John Fogerty, Keller Williams, Mike Watt, Paul Kelly, David Nelson,...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Additional personnel
- Huey LewisHuey LewisHuey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
– harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - John Gilutin, Sean Hopper: Additional keyboards
Production
- Executive Producer: Paul AtkinsonPaul Atkinson (guitarist)Paul Atkinson , born Paul Ashley Warren Atkinson, was a pop guitarist in the legendary pop/rock band The Zombies. Born in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, and educated at St Albans School, he later became an artists and repertoire executive, discovering and signing such bands as ABBA, Bruce Hornsby, Mr...
- Produced By Bruce Hornsby, Elliot Scheiner (for Trackman) and Huey Lewis
- Recorded & Engineered By Elliot Scheiner & Jim Gaines
- Assistant Engineers: Jim "Watts" Vereecke, Lenette Viegas
- Mixed by David Luke, Don Smith, Eddie King & Elliot Scheiner
- Mastered By Stephen Marcussen
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| The Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
3 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "The Way It Is" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 3 | ||
| Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 | ||
| "On the Western Skyline" | Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 6 | |
| "Every Little Kiss" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 14 | |
| Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 18 | ||
| 1987 | Billboard Adult Contemporary | 3 | |
| "Mandolin Rain" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 4 | |
| Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 | ||
| Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 2 | ||
| Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 38 | ||