The 2021 reissue of Scenes from the Southside is not just a nostalgia trip; it is a restoration project. It restores the album to its intended place in the lineage of American rock: as a sophisticated, musically literate collection of songs that transcended the 80s production gloss. For those who only know Bruce Hornsby for "The Way It Is," this reissue makes a compelling argument that his most satisfying work might actually be the scenes he painted on the Southside.
It sounds like you’re referring to a specific article about Bruce Hornsby and the Range’s album Scenes from the Southside , possibly from a 2021 reissue, retrospective, or rarity collection (the “RAR” in your query might be a typo or shorthand for “rare” or a specific publication like Record Collector or Rolling Stone ). The 2021 reissue of Scenes from the Southside
: A powerful opening track that addresses environmental concerns and corporate greed. It features the expansive, grandiose arrangements that defined the band's peak sound. It sounds like you’re referring to a specific
No official 2021 remaster or deluxe edition was announced by RCA or Hornsby’s current label (Zappo Productions). Hornsby himself, known for his ambivalent relationship with his ‘80s commercial peak, made no mention of it. The most plausible theories are: No official 2021 remaster or deluxe edition was
While the vinyl is the star, the "RAR 2021" keyword also dredges up a digital exclusive: For the first time, the B-sides from the 1988 singles were uploaded to HD streaming services (Tidal, Qobuz) in 2021.
: A six-minute version of the piano solo that Hornsby famously captured in just one studio take.
Perhaps Hornsby’s most misunderstood song (a critique of blind nationalism). In the 2021 remaster, the low-end is massive. Joe Puerta’s bass playing—usually subtle—propels the track like a motorik funk engine. The digital versions always made this sound tinny; the RAR vinyl fixes that.