The Rembrandts: "L.P." (1995/2025) CD Review

Whether you were a fan of Friends or not - hell, even if you hated the television show - you became familiar with its theme song, "I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts. Certain television themes go far beyond the shows they were attached to. Think "Peter Gunn" and "Batman Theme." Think John Sebastian's "Welcome Back." The theme song for Friends was played everywhere, and is continued to be played. The song was added to the band's third album, L.P., as a "hidden track," helping to make that album a hit for the band when it was released in 1995. On Record Store Day, an expanded edition of the album was released as a double LP on yellow vinyl. If you missed that (apparently, only 1,400 copies were made), it has also been released on a single CD. The liner notes, written by Andrew Ellis, contain the story of that famous song, as well as how that song fits into the band's larger body of work. The expanded edition contains four bonus tracks, three of which were previously unreleased. There is almost eighty minutes of music on this disc. The album was remastered by Michael Graves at Osiris Studio. The Rembrandts are the duo of Phil Solem on vocals and guitar, and Danny Wilde on vocals and bass and guitar. They are joined by Pat Mastelotto on drums, and Michael Ramos on keys, along with several guests on various tracks.

The album opens with "End Of The Beginning," which features some good and interesting harmonies from the start. The song also contains some strong lyrics, such as these lines: "If there's a meaning to it all, it doesn't matter anymore/'Cause it's the end of the beginning." But what I like most about this track is the psychedelic element to the guitar work in the instrumental section in the second half. That's my favorite part of the song. "End Of The Beginning" is followed by "Easy To Forget," in which they sing, "Do I feel better now/I mean, I think I gotta get you back somehow/I tried to drink you off my mind/But I haven't yet/No, you're not easy to forget." I like that "But I haven't yet" line, as it implies he hasn't given up on it, and is likely still drinking. This track contains some catchy guitar work, which is itself not easy to forget. And I dig that work on keys in the middle. Billy Payne plays organ on this track, and John Pierce plays bass.

So are there songs on this disc that are better than the Friends theme song? You bet there are! One of my favorites is "My Own Way," in part because of the strong vocal work, but also the overall sound. There is a bit of a Beatles influence heard in this one, and there is a catchy rhythm to the vocal line. "You say I don't have a leg to stand on/So it's a good thing I've got two/But if I had only one leg to stand on/That's exactly what I'd do/No one can say there's a right or wrong way." And that instrumental section is bloody great. It's a powerful section, and interestingly, they contrast that with the next couple of lines delivered softly. There is a lot about this track that makes it stand out. The band really delivers here. Jon Niefeld plays drums on this one. Then "Don't Hide Your Love" is a pleasant pop number with a kind of sweet vibe. "Don't hide your love/'Cause there ain't time enough," they tell us. Indeed!

They change gears with "Drowning In Your Tears." While it uses the cliche of comparing tears to rain, this song features a passionate vocal performance that is appealing. "Now what else is there I can say/To make your heartache go away/I'm drowning in your tears." It also contains some nice work on guitar. And probably anyone who loves music will appreciate these lines: "I'm waiting for the band to play/A song to carry me away." That's followed by "This House Is Not A Home," an energetic pop rock number with a strong, driving beat. And it's a love song. "No, this house is not a home/Without you." It has such a good feel about it. Then from "April 29," these lines stand out for me: "I used to be fearful of the voice inside my head/And all the foolish things it said." There is an energy to this song too, particularly in the vocal delivery.

Another of the highlights for me is "Lovin' Me Insane," a song that comes at us at a good pace, taking hold of us even before those opening lines, "Somebody wake me up/Somebody talk me down/Somebody help me." Those are lines that are particularly effective in these strange days. The band is rocking here. "I'm going crazy/You're driving me mad/You're loving me insane." We've all been driven mad by someone, I suppose, but I like this idea that someone's love actually is the cause. I also love those wild vocal reactions at certain points. Things kind of fall apart toward the end, but even that somehow works. "As Long As I'm Breathing" begins with drums. And when the keys come in, it develops a soulful vibe that I love. This song is a declaration of love, and it's wonderfully positive. "If you feel insecure/And the world around is grey/Well, baby, you can rest assured/That I won't run away." Life can be pointlessly difficult, but having that one special person that you can rely on makes all the difference in the world, and that's what this song is about. It is another of my personal favorites. It contains a cool guitar lead in the second half, and it ends, as it began, with drums.

In "The Other Side Of Night," they sing, "Now you're moving through your waking world/While in my sleep I dream." And there is an interesting dreamlike quality to this song. It feels like a reality slightly different from the normal waking life, and features some good percussion. This is another highlight. The original album concludes with that familiar song, "I'll Be There For You," and, dear lord, it's hard to keep from clapping along in that moment after the song's first line. This song does hold a lot of appeal, particularly in its message. Again, we want someone to be there for us when everything else is going wrong. It is interesting, but there are some similarities between this and "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," the theme song from Cheers, in the message. According to the liner notes, this song was 30 or 45 seconds long, and The Rembrandts wrote the rest of it, expanding it to proper song length.

Bonus Tracks

The first bonus track, "Turn Me On," was previously released on a four-song EP of "This House Is Not A Home." It's a fun pop song. It contains a nod to The Beatles, as they sing, "Turn me on, turn me/And you can drive my car," and in the background we hear "Beep beep." The other three bonus tracks were previously unreleased. "Perfect Line" is about struggling to write a song, or, as they sing, "a letter inside this song," in order to reach a specific person. It has something of a sweet sound, with some really good vocal work. "I'm searching for the perfect line." That's followed by "Wait For Me." It's surprising that this song was left off the original release. It is a strong number, better than some of the album's tracks, with a rather serious sound and subject. Here are its first lines: "You thought of every reason/To throw your life away/You couldn't handle one more day." And then it turns brighter and the song becomes about helping, as he promises to "do whatever I can do." The disc concludes with another good pop song, "You Make Me Feel," this one highlighting their harmonies. "You make me feel like I really belong with you."

CD Track List

1. End Of The Beginning
2. Easy To Forget
3. My Own Way
4. Don't Hide Your Love
5. Drowning In Your Tears
6. This House Is Not A Home
7. April 29
8. Lovin' Me Insane
9. There Goes Lucy
10. As Long As I Am Breathing
11. Call Me
12. Comin' Home
13. What Will It Take
14. The Other Side Of Night
15. I'll Be There For You (Theme From Friends)
16. Turn Me On
17. Perfect Line
18. Wait For Me
19. You Make Me Feel

This expanded issue of L.P. was released on CD on April 18, 2025 through Omnivore Recordings.