Every little kiss / The way it is - Bruce Hornsby & the Range

In the Eighties, it wasn't uncommon for record companies in the UK to release new singles by an artist bundled with the previous hit single. They were often shrinkwrapped together, but this package of Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 'Every little kiss' is something different: it's a gatefold sleeve with the artwork of both singles simply printed on opposing sides. Still, you got both singles by the band for the price of one.

'The way it is' is, of course, the song that will forever be Bruce Hornsby's finest hour, while 'Every little kiss' is a largely forgettable bop. 

My collection: 7" single no. 8289
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 11 April 2026
Tracks: 'Every little kiss' / 'The river runs low' // 'The way it is' / 'The red plains' 

Look out any window - Bruce Hornsby & the Range

Although I haven't really delved into the repertoire of the man, I think Bruce Hornsby plays a mean piano solo. Having played the instrument myself, I know how hard it out to get those sounds out of it, but that it someone who seems to do it effortlessly.

That was one reason to buy this single without ever having heard the song. The other reason was the state of it: it looks like it was released yesterday, even if the sticker mentions the actual release date: 8 August 1988. Yes, this is a promotional copy, and that's a bit of a bonus. The track really doesn't disappoint. I'm going to play this single more than once.

My collection: 7" single no. 7558
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, 19 January 2025
Tracks: 'Look out any window' / 'On the Western skyline (live)'

Every little kiss - Bruce Hornsby and the Range

'Every little kiss' was released as the second single from Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 1986 album 'The way it is'. The single reached number14 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 32 in the Dutch Top 40, but didn't chart in the UK.

The B-side of this single was produced by Huey Lewis, who had a successful career in pop himself in the first half of the Eighties.

My collection: 7" single no. 2403
Found: Rotterdam, July 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Every little kiss' / 'The river runs low'

The valley road - Bruce Hornsby and the Range

'The valley road' was released as the first single from Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 1988 album 'Scenes from the Southside'. The song was inspired by observations Hornsby had made growing up in the state of Virginia. 'Every year, some rich girl would get involved with some country guy, and they would act irresponsibly and have to deal with the ramifications.'

The single peaked at number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100, number 27 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 44 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3190
Found: Record fair, September 16, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'The valley road' / 'The long race'

The way it is - Bruce Hornsby and the Range

Such is the nature of beautiful music, that these days even people with not an inch of artisticity in their body recycle it to make their own filth. Bruce Hornsby's 'The way it is' fell victim to Tupac Shakur when he made the track 'Changes', which for reasons that are still a mystery to me became a worldwide hit.

'The way it is' itself is a thing of rare beauty. I've always been attracted to keyboard-based songs and the way the piano is used in this track is truly phenomenal. The lyric tends a bit towards the preachy side, but with a Christian Scientist upbringing, Hornsby probably couldn't help himself. The single was a number 1 hit the Netherlands and the USA. And in this case, that's not a mystery to me.

My collection: 7" single no. 915
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The way it is' / 'The red plains'