SONG OF THE DAY
“Mandolin Rain” by Bruce Hornsby & The Range (The Way It Is, RCA Records, 1987). Written by Bruce Hornsby and John Hornsby.
INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)
– “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 album, “The Way It Is”. It also reached #1 on the adult contemporary chart for three weeks, and #2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for two weeks, also in early 1987. The song even reached the Top 40 on the Country chart, hitting #38.
– The song was co-written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John and featured Range member David Mansfield on the title instrument.
– A minor-key bluegrass ballad of the song appears on the 2007 album Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby.
– The song was used in the 2009 movie, “Worlds Greatest Dad”, with Robin Williams. Hornsby made a cameo appearance in the film and played a beautiful, somewhat edited acoustic version of the song.