Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is

Bruce Hornsby is now best known for his stints playing keyboards with the Grateful Dead and for his involvement in such post-Dead projects as the Further Festival. An incomparable keyboard wizard whose skills are widely admired while his albums are consistently underrated, Hornsby's greatest commercial success is slipping rapidly into the past. His 1986 debut, The Way It Is (recorded with his band, the Range) is the high watermark of his career commercially, having sold several million copies and spawned a trio of hit singles, including "Mandolin Rain," "Every Little Kiss," and of course, the No. 1 smash, "The Way It Is." Overall, it's Hornsby's most tuneful album, though not necessarily his most accomplished work. His is a catalog that is long overdue for reevaluation. --Daniel Durchholz Amazon.com

 4 good songs and that's it.
If you're thinking that you're going to get an album that is full of songs like "Every Little Kiss", "Mandolin Rain", and "the way it is", like I did. Then you will be let down, Like I was. Those 3 songs have been favorites of mine since they came out, but I just now came around to getting the album. Sadly there is only one more song on the album that is even worth listening to and that's "The Long Race". These for songs have all the great piano work, all the great rythums, all the great vocals, and all the great songwriting. The rest of the album is very much just OK and I don't think a whole lot of thought was put into it.

All in all though I payed 2 bucks for my copy and that is definetly worth it for 4 songs that I really like. September 16, 2006

 Bruce's Best
As I write this review(June 1st, 2006), it is exactly 20 years to the day that Bruce Hornsby's debut was released. What an artist and what an album! Not since Elton John, has a piano player had such a major impact on the pop/rock music scene. Bruce Hornsby had a fresh sound that was unlike anything else on the radio at the time & his sound was kind of a cross between pop, rock, folk, bluegrass & country. His band "The Range" were all superb musicians as well. Great guitar work, percussion and of course Bruce's piano playing, which is second to none. I bought this album way back in 1986, and to this day, I still listen to it on a regular basis. There's not one weak song on the entire album and songs like: On the Western Skyline, Down the Road Tonight(w/Huey Lewis), The River Runs Low, The Red Plains & The Wild frontier are just as outstanding as his radio hits. "The Way it is" was an instant classic and one of the Finest albums of the 80's. It just doesn't get any better than this! June 1, 2006

 Old fan
As in other occasions Bruce Hornsby, is the typical singer that i have like, but in radios where i have listen they usually dont say the name of the singer so i pass. Amazon makes possible to have name and music in one pack. Thanks. May 4, 2006

 A Timeless Classic

This is probably Bruce Hornsby's finest moment. It's an album with broad appeal, good keyboards, nice guitar work, infectious beats, and catchy well-sung songs. There's not a weak one in the set. This album is perfect for driving, or musing, or any other activity! Everyone has their favourite song on this album - it's a timeless classic. March 8, 2006

 one of the greatest 80's bands ever !!!!!
one of the few favorite bands from the 80's i can actually say were artists with talent!
every song has a country tinge sound to go with classic piano pop rock, fantastic guiter playing also.
every song, besides their hits, are memorable and catchy.
great driving music too.
all their albums are terrific if you like their songs.
even the non hit songs are excellent.
i cannot praise this group enough!!!


March 6, 2006

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