Mandolin Rain
| "Mandolin Rain" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Bruce Hornsby and the Range | ||||
| from the album The Way It Is | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | December 1986[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1985 | |||
| Genre | Heartland rock[2] | |||
| Length | 5:19 (album version) 4:45 (single mix) | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers |
| |||
| Bruce Hornsby and the Range singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Mandolin Rain" is the third track from The Way It Is, the debut album for Bruce Hornsby and the Range. The song was co-written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John, and featured Range member David Mansfield on the title instrument.
Cashbox called "Mandolin Rain" an "inspired song" with "emotional acoustic-flavored production". They also predicted that the song would replicate the commercial success of "The Way It Is".[3]
Background
[edit]Co-writer of the song John Hornsby said the song is about missing someone badly: "it's about trying to pull through when so many things remind you of her – a tune, a ferry whistle, mainly a summer storm."[4]
Charts
[edit]The song, released in late 1986, peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1987, following on the success of their previous single, the #1 hit and title track to their debut album, "The Way It Is". It also reached number one on the adult contemporary chart for three weeks,[5] and number two on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for two weeks, also in early 1987. The song peaked at number 38 on the country chart.
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] | 14 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[7] | 1 |
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8] | 49 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] | 70 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 4 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[11] | 2 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[12] | 1 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[13] | 38 |
| Year-end chart (1987) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] | 99 |
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[15] | 65 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Bruce Hornsby and the Range - Mandolin Rain".
- ↑ Osmon, Erin (28 April 2026). "1984: New Patriotism". Won't Back Down: Heartland Rock and the Fight for America. New York City: W. W. Norton & Company. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-324-05137-4. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cashbox. January 17, 1987. p. 9. Retrieved August 2, 2025 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ "Mandolin Rain". Bruuuce.com.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 118.
- ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0796". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 November 2024. [dead link]
- ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 8033". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 November 2024. [dead link]
- ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Image 8814". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 November 2024. [dead link]
- ↑ "BRUCE HORNSBY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ↑ "Bruce Hornsby Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ↑ "Bruce Hornsby Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ↑ "Bruce Hornsby Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ↑ "Bruce Hornsby Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0920". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 29 November 2024. [dead link]
- ↑ "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987.
