The Rembrandts

{{Short description|American alternative rock band}} {{About|an alternative rock duo|the album|The Rembrandts (album)}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2009}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = | caption = | landscape = yes | background = group_or_band | name = The Rembrandts | origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * Alternative rock<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 25, 2019 |title=Hall of Fame songwriter Allee Willis, co-writer of 'Friends' theme, dies at 72 |work=UPI |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2019/12/25/Hall-of-Fame-songwriter-Allee-Willis-co-writer-of-Friends-theme-dies-at-72/2951577306680 |last=Jacobson |first=Don |access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Brady |first1=Bradford |last2=Maron |first2=John |name-list-style=and |date=July 26, 2020 |title=On the Record: Who Sings Adventure Rocketship |work=Herald Courier |url=https://heraldcourier.com/community/on-the-record-who-sings-adventure-rocketship/article_7c6778c2-fbe5-5727-b0a4-e811e29cb91c.html |access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref> * pop rock<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erelwine |first=Stephen Thomas |title=The Rembrandts - Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-rembrandts-mn0000498484/biography |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |title=The Rembrandts' "I'll Be There For You" was a golden albatross |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-rembrandts-i-ll-be-there-for-you-was-a-golden-al-1798280808 |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=AV Club|date=June 11, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kalnitz |first=Max |title=WHERE ARE THEY NOW: '90s one-hit wonders |url=https://www.insider.com/90s-one-hit-wonders-today |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=Insider}}</ref> * power pop<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barrett |first=John |title=25 Awesome One-Hit Wonders of the 1990s |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/25-awesome-one-hit-wonders-of-the-1990s/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=Paste|date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |title=Flashback: The Rembrandts Play 'I'll Be There for You' on Letterman in 1995 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/friends-theme-rembrandts-ill-be-there-for-you-letterman-1175232/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 27, 2021 }}</ref> * jangle pop<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monger |first=James Christopher |title=The Rembrandts - Choice Picks |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/choice-picks-mw0000350440 |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Monger |first=James Christopher |title=The Rembrandts - Greatest Hits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-mw0000410819 |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> }} | years_active = 1989–1997, 2000–present | label = {{flatlist| * Atco * Atlantic * East West * J-Bird * Fuel 2000 * Blue Élan }} | website = {{Official URL}} | current_members = {{ubl|Phil Solem|Danny Wilde}} }} '''The Rembrandts''' are an American alternative rock duo, formed in Los Angeles by Danny Wilde and Phil Solem in 1989.<ref name="Larkin90">{{Cite book |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music |date=2000 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=978-0-7535-0427-7 |editor-last=Larkin |editor-first=Colin |editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |edition=First |page=329}}</ref> They had previously worked together as members of '''Great Buildings''' in 1981. The Rembrandts are best known for the song "I'll Be There for You", which was used as the main theme song for the NBC sitcom ''Friends''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sturges |first=Fiona |date=April 27, 2004 |title=The Rembrandts: 'So no one told me it was going to be this way' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-rembrandts-so-no-one-told-me-it-was-going-to-be-this-way-756469.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-rembrandts-so-no-one-told-me-it-was-going-to-be-this-way-756469.html |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |access-date=August 20, 2010 |work=Independent |location=London}}</ref>

== History == Wilde was a member of 1970s cult recording act the Quick,<ref name="Larkin90"/> and had released several mildly successful solo albums in the 1980s. Wilde and Solem had been in the power-pop quartet Great Buildings, a band that released one album for CBS in 1981 before dissolving.<ref name="Larkin90"/>

After establishing themselves as the Rembrandts in 1989, Solem and Wilde recorded a self-titled album largely in Wilde's home studio. From this album, the group had their first success during 1990 with "Just the Way It Is, Baby", which scored at number 14 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="Larkin90"/> The self-titled album scored number 88 on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="Larkin90"/>

The next album, ''Untitled'', of 1992,<ref name="Larkin90"/> featured the minor successes "Johnny, Have You Seen Her?" and "Chase the Clouds Away". Another track from the album, "Rollin' Down the Hill", was used in the film ''Dumb and Dumber''.

"I'll Be There for You", the theme for the sitcom ''Friends'', reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart for several weeks before being released as a single and peaking at No. 17 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' chart.<ref name="Larkin90"/> The single has been released in other countries, including the UK, where it reached No. 3 in 1995 and No. 5 in 1997.<ref name="Larkin90"/> The success of ''Friends'' has caused a greater awareness of the band, and led to greater sales of their recorded albums. The song was also featured on the ''Friends Soundtrack'' album. An earlier, previously unreleased version of "I'll Be There for You" with a different lyric was included on their ''Unreleased Stuff'' album.

In 1997, the duo split, with Solem returning to Minneapolis to concentrate on his band Thrush.<ref name="Larkin90"/> In 1998, Wilde released the album ''Spin This'', credited to "Danny Wilde + The Rembrandts".<ref name="Larkin90"/> In 2000, Solem and Wilde reunited, and released the album ''Lost Together'' as the Rembrandts the following year.

In 2005, the band released two versions of an album of re-recorded favorites, ''Choice Picks'': one released through Awarestore.com which features the new track "Chasin' Down a Rainbow", the other on the Fuel 2000 label with the new track "Don't Give Me Up".

In 2006, Rhino Records released the collection ''Greatest Hits'', a 20-song career-to-date retrospective including material from the lone Great Buildings album ''Apart from the Crowd''.

In 2016 the pair reunited and announced they would release a new album. ''Via Satellite'' was released in 2019.

== Mainstream success == Despite achieving success with "I'll Be There for You", the duo has been dismissive of the song. Phil Solem in 1995, said "We don't want to hang our hats on the theme from a TV show...[w]e've been working too long at our craft for that."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shuster |first=Fred |date=June 29, 1995 |title=REMBRANDTS' CAREER GETS BY WITH LITTLE HELP FROM 'FRIENDS' |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-06-29-9506290029-story.html |access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref> The same year, the duo tried to apologize for the song on MTV News' "The Year in Rock."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Steve |date=December 15, 1995 |title="The Year in Rock": And what a... |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-12-15-9512150023-story.html |access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref>

== Legacy == In 2014, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked them the 20th-best two-hit wonder of all time.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Harris |first1=Keith |last2=Johnston |first2=Maura |author2-link=Maura Johnston |title=Love Me Two Times: 20 Greatest Two-Hit Wonders of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/love-me-two-times-20-greatest-two-hit-wonders-of-all-time-12752/20-the-rembrandts-224239/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 31, 2014 }}</ref> Insider placed them on their list of the "Best One-Hit Wonders of All Time".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Gabbi |title=The 57 best one-hit wonders of all time |url=https://www.insider.com/best-one-hit-wonders-2018-5#ill-be-there-for-you-by-the-rembrandts-1995-35 |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=Insider}}</ref>

== Members == * Danny Wilde (born June 3, 1956, Houlton, Maine, U.S.) – vocals, bass, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, keyboards, percussion<ref name=":0">{{Cite AV media notes |id=92200-2 |title=Untitled |others=The Rembrandts |publisher=ATCO Records |year=1992 |type=liner notes}}</ref> * Phil Solem (born July 1, 1956, Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.) – vocals, guitars, keyboards, banjo, bass<ref name=":0"/>

== Discography == === Studio albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"|Title !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"|Details !scope="col" colspan="6"|Peak chart positions !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:13em;"|Certifications |- !scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US <ref name="billboard">{{Cite magazine |title=Billboard Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-rembrandts/chart-history/hsi/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> !scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|AUS <ref name="ARIA">{{cite Ryan|page=233}}</ref><ref name="ARIA history pages">{{cite web|url= https://imgur.com/a/fGH7bMn | title=The Rembrandts ARIA Chart history (complete to 2024)|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= July 26, 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> !scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|AUT <ref name="aut">{{Cite web |title=AUT |url=https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Rembrandts&titel=L%2EP%2E&cat=a |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=austriancharts.at}}</ref> !scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|NZ <ref name="nz">{{Cite web |title=NZ |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Rembrandts&titel=L%2EP%2E&cat=a |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=charts.org.nz}}</ref> !scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|SWE <ref name="swe">{{Cite web |title=SWE |url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Rembrandts&titel=L%2EP%2E&cat=a |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=swedishcharts}}</ref> !scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|UK <ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Charts |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29397/rembrandts/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=Official Charts}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|''The Rembrandts'' | *Released: September 4, 1990 *Label: Atco | 88 || 93 || 23 || — || 43 || — | |- !scope="row"|''Untitled'' | *Released: September 15, 1992 *Label: Atco | — || 158 || — || — || — || — | |- !scope="row"|''LP'' | *Released: May 23, 1995 *Label: EastWest America | 23 || 133 || — || 25 || — || 14 | *RIAA: Platinum<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold and Platinum |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=the+rembrandts#search_section |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=RIAA}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|''Spin This'' {{small|(with Danny Wilde)}} | *Released: April 28, 1998 *Label: EastWest America | — || — || — || — || — || — | |- !scope="row"|''Lost Together'' | *Released: October 2, 2001 *Label: J-Bird | — || — || — || — || — || — | |- !scope="row"|''Via Satellite'' | *Released: 2019 *Label: Blue Élan | — || — || — || — || — || — | |}

=== Compilation albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected details ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row" | ''Choice Picks'' | * Released: 2005 * Label: True North, Fuel 2000 |- ! scope="row" | ''Greatest Hits'' | * Released: 2006 * Label: Rhino Records |}

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title !scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year !scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions !scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications !scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|US <ref name="billboard"/> !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|US Main. Rock <ref name="billboard"/> !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|US Main. Pop <ref name="billboard"/> !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|AUS <ref>{{Cite web |title=AUS |url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Rembrandts&titel=I%27ll+Be+There+For+You&cat=s |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=australian-charts.com}}</ref><ref name="ARIA history pages"/> !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|CAN <ref>{{Cite web |title=RPM |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.8531&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.8531.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.8531 |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=Library and Archives Canada| date=July 17, 2013 }}</ref> !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|FRA <ref>{{Cite web |title=FRA |url=https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Rembrandts&titel=I%27ll+Be+There+For+You&cat=s |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=lescharts.com}}</ref> !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|GER <ref>{{Cite web |title=GER |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-15559 |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=offiziellecharts.de}}</ref> !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|NLD <ref>{{Cite web |title=NET |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Rembrandts&titel=I%27ll+Be+There+For+You&cat=s |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=dutchcharts}}</ref> !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|SWE <ref name="swe"/> !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-904994-10-7 |edition=19th |location=London |page=458}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|"Just the Way It Is, Baby" |align="center"|1990 |align="center"|14 |align="center"|13 |align="center"|— |align="center"|26 |align="center"|12 |align="center"|9 |align="center"|6 |align="center"|53 |align="center"|23 |align="center"|77 | |align="center" rowspan="4"|''The Rembrandts'' |- !scope="row"|"Someone" |align="center" rowspan=3|1991 |align="center"|78 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|104 |align="center"|82 |align="center"|— |align="center"|45 |align="center"|57 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |- !scope="row"|"Burning Timber" |align="center"|— |align="center"|36 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |- !scope="row"|"Save Me" |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|64 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |- !scope="row"|"Johnny Have You Seen Her" |align="center"|1992 |align="center"|54 |align="center"|24 |align="center"|38 |align="center"|172 |align="center"|48 |align="center"|— |align="center"|54 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |align="center" rowspan="4"|''Untitled'' |- !scope="row"|"Maybe Tomorrow" |align="center" rowspan=3|1993 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |- !scope="row"|"Chase the Clouds Away" |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |- !scope="row"|"Waiting to Be Opened" |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |- !scope="row"|"I'll Be There for You" |align="center" rowspan=3|1995 |align="center" rowspan=2|17 |align="center"|— |align="center"|1 |align="center"|3 |align="center"|1 |align="center"|— |align="center"|77 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|3 | * ARIA: Platinum<ref name="ARIA"/> * BPI: Platinum<ref>{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=The Rembrandts|title=I'll Be There for You|id=3224-1407-1|access-date=September 10, 2022}}</ref> |align="center" rowspan="5"|''LP'' |- !scope="row"|"This House Is Not a Home" |align="center"|— |align="center"|31 |align="center"|150 |align="center"|82 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|58 | |- !scope="row"|"Don't Hide Your Love" |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |- !scope="row"|"Drowning in Your Tears" |align="center"|1996 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |- !scope="row"|"I'll Be There for You" ''[European re-release]'' |align="center"|1997 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|25 |align="center"|— |align="center"|20 |align="center"|34 |align="center"|5 | |- !scope="row"|"Too Late" |align="center"|2001 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— | |align="center"|''Lost Together'' |}

== See also == * Pat Mastelotto * Pete McRae

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website}} * [https://myspace.com/therembrandts The Rembrandts] at Myspace

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rembrandts, The}} Category:American power pop groups Category:American jangle pop groups Category:Musical groups established in 1989 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1997 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2000 Category:East West Records artists Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Atco Records artists Category:Alternative rock groups from California