The Rembrandts, new masters : Big Hit #1 (Power Pop wonders #8a)
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(First in a series)
This week's discovery of a few upcoming live shows, new website and a few new tracks on MySpace has once again put The Rembrandts, probably my favorite Power Pop or pop/rock group, on my personal radar. I have been following this duo for 18 years now, and here's the video and song that started it all:My apologies - the video is not the sharpest image, but the only one available on YouTube. I own a copy of the VHS video and someday, when I have bought a video capture card, I may throw it up here. My love for The Rembrandts knows no bounds. They have every requirement I look for in great pop/rock music - fabulous vocals and harmonies, muscularly melodic guitar work courtesy of Phil Solem (on the right in the photo above), great songs and some unusual chord changes (not present in this particular song - later examples to follow). The 60s throwback look - Beatle boots and tight jeans, great haircuts. Danny Wilde is the other member in this duo and has a long history going back to '76 in various groups, also to be covered later. But for now, as an introduction or memory jogger, *Just The Way It Is, Baby*, their top-20 hit from 1990. It got heavy rotation on MTV (when they showed videos, of course). This was my introduction to the group, and I was obsessed from Day 1. In particular, please listen to Phil Solem's guitar solo mid-song. This is quite possibly my favorite guitar solo of all time. Brilliantly constructed and played (and not ??easy?? to play - I've tried), I know every note by heart and it still thrills me 18 years later.Next up: Big Hit #2, followed by chronological history posts.
This week's discovery of a few upcoming live shows, new website and a few new tracks on MySpace has once again put The Rembrandts, probably my favorite Power Pop or pop/rock group, on my personal radar. I have been following this duo for 18 years now, and here's the video and song that started it all:My apologies - the video is not the sharpest image, but the only one available on YouTube. I own a copy of the VHS video and someday, when I have bought a video capture card, I may throw it up here. My love for The Rembrandts knows no bounds. They have every requirement I look for in great pop/rock music - fabulous vocals and harmonies, muscularly melodic guitar work courtesy of Phil Solem (on the right in the photo above), great songs and some unusual chord changes (not present in this particular song - later examples to follow). The 60s throwback look - Beatle boots and tight jeans, great haircuts. Danny Wilde is the other member in this duo and has a long history going back to '76 in various groups, also to be covered later. But for now, as an introduction or memory jogger, *Just The Way It Is, Baby*, their top-20 hit from 1990. It got heavy rotation on MTV (when they showed videos, of course). This was my introduction to the group, and I was obsessed from Day 1. In particular, please listen to Phil Solem's guitar solo mid-song. This is quite possibly my favorite guitar solo of all time. Brilliantly constructed and played (and not ??easy?? to play - I've tried), I know every note by heart and it still thrills me 18 years later.Next up: Big Hit #2, followed by chronological history posts.
Comments (10)
Was just listening to Great Buildings a few hours before this post. Coincidence...hmmmmmm. Remembering when this song came out that is was our number one song for a few months at the radio station.
The Rembrandts never fail to put out one wonderful album after another.