Live: The Way It Is Tour 1986-87 Bruce Hornsby & The Range

• 1 Every Little Kiss 06:27
• 2 The Long Race 06:04
• 3 The Way It Is (Solo Piano Intro) 07:09
• 4 The Way It Is 06:25
• 5 Mandolin Rain 06:34
• 6 The Red Plains 06:48
• 7 On the Western Skyline 06:19
• Total Runtime 45:46

Info for Live: The Way It Is Tour 1986-87

One listen to this astonishing live radio broadcast and it is immediately clear why there was so much excitement and acclaim surrounded the release of Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 1987 debut album, The Way It Is. Not since Elton John and Billy Joel had such a prolific singer/songwriter/pianist burst onto the international music scene with such a brilliant first release.

This recording was made at the intimate Ritz club in New York City and features the original Range line-up, including George Marinelli (later to become the lead guitarist for Bonnie Raitt). Hornsby essentially recreates the atmosphere of his debut album with passionate versions of "Every Little Kiss," "Mandolin Rain," "On The Western Skyline" and "Jacob's Ladder," the last of which he had originally written for Huey Lewis and the News..

The highlight of the show, in many ways, is his remarkable piano solo, which leads directly into his biggest hit, "The Way It Is." Another gem is Hornsby's version of the Grateful Dead classic, "I Know You Rider," which he would perform regularly when he eventually met the Dead and began sitting in with them at their shows.

Bruce Hornsby, lead vocals, piano, accordion, synthesizer
Peter Harris, guitars
George Marinelli, guitars, vocals
Joe Puerta, bass, vocals
John Molo, drums, percussion

Recorded live February 2, 1987 at The Ritz, New York City
Engineered by Randy Ezratty
Mixed by Eddie King

Digitally remastered

Bruce Hornsby
Since the release of his first album in April of 1986, Bruce Hornsby has created a musical life that has expanded far and wide to include a broad stylistic range of activity and a most impressive list of credits. From his days in the lounges and bars of Virginia to his days in the Los Angeles music studios to his days with The Range to his current status as a solo artist, Hornsby has always brought something unique to his music.

Bruce Hornsby is a nine time Grammy nominee, and has won three...in 1987 with The Range for Best New Artist for their debut LP 'The Way It Is'; in 1989 for Best Bluegrass Recording for his version of his hit 'The Valley Road' which appeared on The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's album 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Volume II'; and with Branford Marsalis in 1993 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for their song for the Barcelona Olympics, 'Barcelona Mona.' Bruce was nominated twice in 1996 for Best Pop Instrumental for his solo piano piece 'Song B,' and with Chaka Khan for Best Song For A Motion Picture for 'Love Me Still' from the soundtrack of Spike Lee's 'Clockers.'

Hornsby's five albums - 'The Way It Is' (1986), 'Scenes From The Southside' (1988), 'A Night On The Town' (1990), 'Harbor Lights' (1993), and 'Hot House' (1995) - have sold more than eight million copies worldwide. The title cut from 'The Way It Is' was the most played song on American radio in 1987, winning ASCAP's Song of the Year award. In Keyboard Magazine's Reader's Poll, Hornsby won six years in a row, including the 1994 award for Best Rock Pianist 'Harbor Lights' was the 1994 winner of the Downbeat Readers' Poll Beyond Album Of The Year.

In addition to his own hit records, Bruce Hornsby has co-authored many hits for other artists, such as 'Jacob's Ladder' for Huey Lewis and 'The End Of The Innocence' for Don Henley. Bruce has played on more than 70 albums in the last eight years, including records by Bob Dylan, Don Henley, The Grateful Dead, Bob Seger, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bela Fleck, Bonnie Raitt and Shawn Colvin.

Bruce Hornsby was also a part time member of The Grateful Dead from 1990-1992, playing more than one hundred concerts with the band in America and Europe.

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