| Cover | Bruce Hornsby - Mandolin Rain single cover.jpg |
|---|---|
| Artist | Bruce Hornsby and the Range |
| Album | The Way It Is |
| B-side |
|
| Released | December 1986[1] |
| Recorded | 1985 |
| Genre | Soft rock |
| Length | 5:19 (album version) 4:45 (single mix) |
| Label | RCA |
| Writer | Bruce Hornsby · John Hornsby |
| Producer | Bruce Hornsby · Elliot Scheiner |
| Prev year | 1986 |
| Next year | 1988 |
"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".[2]
Background
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."[3]
Charts
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,[4] 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 |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[5] | 70 |
| Year-end chart (1987) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[6] | 65 |
References
- ^ "Bruce Hornsby and the Range - Mandolin Rain"
- ^ "Single Releases". 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.
- ^ "BRUCE HORNSBY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987.