Luv' | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Genres | Pop, Nederpop, disco, dance |
Years active | 1977–1981, 1989–1996, 2005–2012, 2015–2020 |
Labels | |
Past members | Marga Scheide José Hoebee Patty Brard Ria Thielsch Diana van Berlo Michelle Gold Carina Lemoine Chimène van Oosterhout |
Website | Official Facebook page |
Luv' were a Dutch girl group that scored a string of hit records in Continental Europe (Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Spain, Denmark, Norway and Finland) as well as Israel, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina and Mexico in the late 1970s and early 1980s. [1] The original members were Patty Brard, José Hoebee and Marga Scheide. In 1979, Luv' was 'Holland's best export act' and thus received the Conamus Export Prize. [2]
The band sold more than seven million records worldwide (singles and albums). [3] Among their greatest hits were: "U.O.Me (Welcome to Waldolala)", "You're the Greatest Lover", "Trojan Horse", "Casanova" and "Ooh, Yes I Do". The formation went through line-up changes and the original singers reunited several times. They gave a farewell performance on 11 August 2012 in Spaarnwoude at the Dutch Valley Festival. [4] Two members of the pop act have had a successful solo career in their homeland: Patty as a TV personality and José as a vocalist. In 2016, Marga, José and Ria Thielsch (who already replaced Patty in 1980) decided to relaunch Luv'. In July 2017, the ladies celebrated their 40th anniversary. On 4 January 2019, the group announced another line-up change in De Telegraaf: media personality Chimène van Oosterhout replaced Ria Thielsch. The renewed trio released a Latin pop-reggaeton single entitled With Him Tonight in July 2019, twenty-five years after their last album All You Need Is Luv' . On 7 February 2020, the group's management stated that Luv' stopped all their activities due to José's ill health. [5]
In 1976, record producers Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, assisted by manager Han Meijer, twenty years before the Spice Girls phenomenon, decided to form a girl group, inspired by the German disco trio Silver Convention. They had already recorded the music of a self-penned track ("My Man") and were looking for singers. They recruited three women:
After the singles "My Man" (#12 in the Netherlands and a Flemish Top 10 hit) and Dream, Dream (which failed to enter the charts) in 1977, Van Hemert was commissioned by VPRO television to write the theme song for the Wim T. Schippers-written TV series Het is weer zo laat! (also known as Waldolala), a spin-off from Van Oekel's Discohoek (1974). With the help from Souer, he composed "U.O.Me (Welcome to Waldolala)" which was recorded by the girls. Moreover, Luv's appearance performing the song on this TV show during the opening credit was a great publicity stunt. It became an instant hit in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium) (a Top 5 hit in both countries).
The "You're the Greatest Lover" single was their international breakthrough in 1978 and sold one million copies. Apart from their homeland, Luv' entered the music charts in Belgium, France, Germany,Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Israel, South Africa, Rhodesia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina and Mexico. The follow-up singles ("Trojan Horse" (another million-seller), "Casanova", "Ooh, Yes I Do"...) were also successful. Their albums were big selling records (especially With Luv' and Lots of Luv' ).
In 1978–1979, Luv' was 'Holland's best export act' and received for their entire oeuvre the Export award from Conamus, a foundation dedicated to the promotion and support of Dutch music abroad.
In Germany, the trio was often invited on two popular TV programs: Disco and Musikladen . "You're the Greatest Lover" (which sold 500.000 copies in Goethe's country and earned a gold certification) was also used for the soundtrack of an episode of Derrick TV series . [6] Two decades later, a dance music oriented cover version of this track by Loona renamed "Latino Lover" was a hit single in German-speaking countries (#6 and gold single (250 000 units sold) in Germany, #9 in Austria and #6 in Switzerland in 2000). [7]
Some tracks were recorded in Spanish. "Eres Mi Mejor Amante" (a.k.a. "You're the Greatest Lover") was a hit in Spain and "Si, Que Si" (a.k.a. "Ooh, Yes I Do") reached the gold status in Mexico.
Their songs were also popular behind the Iron Curtain, especially in East Germany, Poland and Hungary. However, records distribution was limited in the Eastern Bloc. Sales were indeed difficult to evaluate in this part of the world.
In 1979, the three singers, their producers and their new manager (Han Meijer was replaced by Pim Ter Linde who ran Interlinde Management) changed their strategy for better opportunities. That's why, they founded a limited company, Interluv'/Luv' BV, to control every aspect of their career. They chose a new publisher and a new record company. After a deal with Philips Records, they signed a 750.000 Dutch guilder contract with CNR, a Dutch label affiliated to Carrere Records, a French company.
Soon after the release of the "One More Little Kissie" single, Patty Brard left the band in August 1980. She was replaced by a model and limbo dancer from the Ricardo and The Flames revue, Ria Thielsch born on 25 August 1951 in Manokwari, New Guinea. Ria was officially introduced to the public when the "My Number One" single and the Forever Yours album were released in the fall of 1980. These records sold well in the Netherlands and Belgium. Luv' was supposed to take part in the World Popular Song Festival (also known as the "Yamaha Music Festival" and considered as the "Oriental Eurovision") in November 1980 with the song "Be My Lover Tonight". [8] Instead of it, Luv' cancelled their participation to this competition and preferred to perform on the Musikladen TV show in Germany.
In March 1981, the girls and their team announced their break-up at the time they had planned to promote their recordings in new territories (Japan, Soviet Union....). To the public's great surprise, the group made a farewell performance on 22 July 1981 on the Nederland Muziekland show on Veronica (TV channel) by singing "Tingalingaling" (which was released as a single). This final broadcast was filmed in Spakenburg. Luv' also appeared at the Efteling theme park during Hitkrant's Zomerspelen (a summer multi-sport event with Dutch celebrities which was organized by teen magazine Hitkrant). They were expected to sing at a UNICEF gala in Greece but their participation in this show was called off. Then the compilation album Goodbye Luv' (1981) came out.
In 1988, the original line-up was reunited for a Dutch TV charity show (Samen) hosted by Mies Bouwman. Luv' later planned to record a comeback album. The British producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman were said to produce this opus. However, nothing materialized.
Marga Scheide (only original member) and two other singers, Diana van Berlo and Michelle Gold recorded as Luv' a single ("Welcome to My Party") which reached the 22nd position on the Dutch charts and the 28th position on the Flemish charts in the autumn of 1989. Moreover, the trio was involved with other Dutch groups in the 'All Stars' project to help Third World children with the "Star Maker" single. In 1990, Michelle Gold was replaced by another vocalist, Carina Lemoine. During the Gulf War, Luv' performed in Dubai to support the Dutch troops. The formation disbanded in 1992.
Due to the success of ABBA and Boney M. compilations, the original Luv' girls got together. An anthology CD ( Luv' Gold ) and a medley single ("Megamix '93") were released in 1993 and peaked respectively at #14 and #23 on the Dutch charts. The ladies went on tour in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Denmark. Then their last studio album All You Need Is Luv' (1994) was issued by an independent label (Roman Disc) and only available in Kruidvat (a Dutch chain of drugstores). Luv' performed sporadically and broke up again in 1996.
In 2003, a double CD compilation, 25 Jaar Na Waldolala , was released by Universal Music Netherlands to celebrate their 25th anniversary. This greatest hits album featured bonus tracks: Spanish versions of four hit singles as well as José and Marga's solo recordings.
In 2005, Luv' made a surprise performance at the 60th birthday of Hans van Hemert. One year later, a reality TV show about their comeback (Back in Luv) was broadcast on RTL 5 (a Dutch TV channel) and on VTM (a Flemish channel). A DVD (also entitled Back in Luv' ) and a box set ( Completely in Luv' ) with bonus tracks and remixes came out. On 26, 27 and 28 May 2006, Luv' and Bobby Farrell (of Boney M.) were the guest stars during three big shows of De Toppers at the Amsterdam Arena. [9] Until 2008, they had a hectic schedule. They often performed on TV and were booked for live performances (in clubs, private parties, corporate events and festivals).
In the later years, concerts were sporadic mainly due to the fact that Patty Brard was a busy TV personality. In the 2000s and early 2010s, Luv' was one of the few manufactured bands of the disco and dance era to be on stage with the original line-up (unlike Boney M. and Village People). Marga announced in a radio interview on NOS their definitive break-up [10] in March 2012. They gave their final performance on 11 August 2012 in Spaarnwoude at the Dutch Valley Festival. [11] [12]
In May 2015, the 1980–1981 line-up of Luv' (Marga, José and Ria) took part in the release party of a photo book The Story of Luv (including exclusive pictures of the ladies) at the Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum. Dutch illusionist Hans Klok attended this event. Patty Brard was opposed to this project. [13] The publication was eventually banned due to copyright issues.
In March 2016, Marga and José announced another comeback of Luv' in De Telegraaf . [14] Patty was not involved in this comeback and was replaced by Ria Thielsch. Luv' intended to go on tour and record a new repertoire produced by Juan Cristóbal Losada. On 1 October 2016, they performed at the Studio 54 party at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium with Earth, Wind & Fire experience feat. Al MacKay, Jocelyn Brown and Kate Ryan. [15] In July 2017, they celebrated their 40th anniversary with fans in Best. [16]
On 4 January 2019, the group announced an unexpected line-up change in De Telegraaf : media personality Chimène van Oosterhout replaced Ria Thielsch. [17] In July 2019, Luv' released a Latin pop-reggaeton single entitled With Him Tonight with Latin Grammy-nominated producers Keith Morrison [18] and Manuel Garrido-Lecca. [19] [20]
On 7 February 2020, Luv' (which had not performed since September 2019 due to José Hoebee's illness) informed the media and the public about the interruption of their activities. [21]
In February 2021, Hans van Hemert productions and the YesterMix's YouTube channel presented the 2021 Uptempo Remix of "Ooh, Yes I Do" by DJ WR (Wouter Reinders) and DJ BarFeet (Maarten Bervoets). Shortly afterwards, the Spanish version of this remix entitled "Si Que Si 2021 (Versión Uptempo)" came out.
2021 saw also the reissue of two albums and several singles on digital platforms: All You Need Is Luv' (April 2021), [22] Sincerely Yours (June 2021) and the four singles/maxi-singles taken from it ("Hasta Mañana", "Jungle Jive", "The Last Song" and "He's My Guy") as well as "This Old Heart of Mine" (October 2021).
On February 11, 2022, Cloud 9 Music released "Trojan Horse" (Kav Verhouzer Remix) as a digital single. [23] Two days later, this remix entered the Dutch iTunes Top 100 at #10. One week later, it dropped out of this chart.
Luv' was inspired by ABBA that had dealt with various record companies to control the distribution of their records.
The female pop act had a contract with Philips Records/Phonogram from 1977 to 1979. Afterwards, the trio signed a 750.000 Dutch Guilder record deal with CNR, a label affiliated to Carrere Records. This contract (which lasted from 1979 to 1981) was considered by the newspaper De Telegraaf as "the show business transfer of the year".
As they changed their label, the girls also changed their publishing company (which controlled the copyright of their songs). Their first publisher was Banananas Music during their Phonogram years and their second one was Roba Musik Verlag during their CNR/Carrere period.
Phonogram and CNR licensed the rights for their records to various labels around the world. For example, Luv's records were released by Private Stock Records in the UK, by Carrere Records in German-speaking countries, by WEA in Japan, by West and Meteor labels in Turkey or by Discos Musart in Mexico. There were eighty-seven record pressings in about forty countries. [24]
In 1979, the three singers, their producers and their manager founded a limited company (Interluv'/Luv' B.V) to control every aspect of their career. Two years later, as the formation disbanded, it ended its legal obligations.
When Marga Scheide formed a new Luv’ trio with two new members and without the original producers, she signed a deal with High Fashion Records/Dureco to release in 1989 a mini-album, For You, which included the moderate hit "Welcome to My Party") and later another contract with RCA/BMG for the Sincerely Yours album.
In 1993, when the original line-up was reunited, the vocalists had a new deal with Arcade Records for the release of the Luv' Gold compilation which entered the album charts in the Netherlands.
Then, they recorded their last studio album All You Need Is Luv' (1994), issued by an independent label (Roman Disc) and only available in Kruidvat, a Dutch chain of drugstores.
Luv's back catalogue currently belongs to Hans van Hemert Productions and Universal Music Netherlands which released compilations like 25 Jaar Na Waldolala (2003) and Completely in Luv' (2006).
Margareth "Marga" Scheide is a Dutch singer and former model. She was a member of the girl group Luv'. Alongside Patty Brard and José Hoebee, she scored a string of international hit songs such as "You're the Greatest Lover", "Trojan Horse", "Casanova" and "Ooh, Yes I Do". She was the only Luv' singer to be involved in all the incarnations of the group.
"Tingalingaling" is the thirteenth single by the Dutch girl group Luv', released in the summer of 1981 by CNR/Carrere Records. The song appears on the Forever Yours album and the Goodbye Luv' compilation. It was meant to be Luv's farewell to their public. The members of the female pop act didn't know at this time they would make several reunions in the future.
"Welcome to My Party" is the fourteenth single by the Dutch girl group Luv', released in the autumn of 1989 by Dureco/High Fashion. This song appears on the 1989 EP For You and is the group's comeback record since their 1981 single Tingalingaling. It was recorded by a line-up consisting of Marga Scheide and two new members, Michelle Gold and Diana van Berlo.
4 Gouden Hits is the fifteenth single by the Dutch girl group Luv', released in 1989 by Philips Records. This maxi CD single includes four hit songs that were successful in 1978 and 1979—"You're the Greatest Lover", "Trojan Horse", "Casanova" and "U.O.Me ".
With Luv' is the first album by the Dutch girl group Luv', released in August 1978 by Phonogram/Philips Records. It includes the hit singles "My Man", "U.O.Me" and the million-seller "You're the Greatest Lover. Some pressings of this album includes "Trojan Horse", a successful European chart topper. In 2006, this LP was reissued in digitally remastered form by Universal Music Netherlands as part of the Completely in Luv' box set.
Lots of Luv' is the second album by Dutch girl group Luv', released in May 1979 by Philips Records/Phonogram. It features the hit singles Casanova and Eeny Meeny Miny Moe, which maintained Luv's position as the best Dutch export act of 1979. In 2006, this LP was reissued in digitally remastered form by Universal Music Netherlands as part of the Completely in Luv' box set and featured the popular chart topper "Trojan Horse".
True Luv' is the third album by Dutch girl group Luv', released in December 1979 by CNR/Carrere Records. It includes the hit singles "Ooh, Yes I Do" and "Ann-Maria" scored in the charts of European countries and also in a new territory: Mexico. In 1980, Luv's record company decided to re-issue the album by changing the track listing. The songs "Cloud nr.9" and "Let There Be Love" were replaced by "One More Little Kissie" and "I Win It". In 2006, this LP has been reissued in digitally remastered form by Universal Music Netherlands as part of the Completely in Luv' box set.
Forever Yours is the fourth album by Dutch girl group Luv', released in November 1980 by the labels CNR/Carrere Records. It includes the hit singles "One More Little Kissie", "My Number One" and "Tingalingaling". This opus features a new group's member Ria Thielsch who replaced Patty Brard. It was Luv''s last record to benefit from a real international release in more than thirty countries. In 2006, this LP has been reissued in digitally remastered form by Universal Music Netherlands as part of the Completely in Luv' box set.
Luv' Gold is a 1993 greatest hits album by Dutch girl group Luv' which features hit singles like "You're the Greatest Lover", "Trojan Horse", "Casanova", "Ooh, Yes I Do" and some album tracks from the formation's heyday (1977–1981).
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Dutch girl group Luv' by Philips/Phonogram Records. It was rush-released in 1979 a few weeks after the formation had left Philips to sign a record deal with the labels CNR/Carrere Records. It features hit singles scored in the charts between 1977 and 1979: "My Man", "U.O.Me", "You're the Greatest Lover", "Trojan Horse", "Casanova" and "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe". These songs were originally released in their first and second studio albums, With Luv' (1978) and Lots of Luv' (1979). The Philips/Phonogram years were the group's most successful ones in terms of chart performance.
Goodbye Luv' is a compilation album by Dutch girl group Luv' released by CNR/Carrere Records in 1981 after the formation announced its break-up. It features hit singles taken from the studio albums True Luv' (1979) and Forever Yours (1980) and scored in the charts between 1979 and 1981.
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Dutch girl group Luv' released by Mercury Records/Phonogram Records. It is the CD version of their 1979 Greatest Hits album which came out ten years earlier, including a bonus track: "Luv' Hitpack". It features hit singles scored in the charts between 1977 and 1979: "My Man", "U.O.Me", "You're the Greatest Lover", "Trojan Horse", "Casanova" and "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe". These songs originate from their first and second studio albums, With Luv' (1978) and Lots of Luv' (1979). The Phonogram years were the group's most successful ones in terms of chart performance as Luv' reached the Top 10 in a dozen of countries in the late 1970s.
Completely in Luv' is a four-CD boxed set of four studio albums, With Luv' (1978), Lots of Luv' (1979), True Luv' (1979) and Forever Yours (1980) recorded by Dutch girl group Luv' during their heyday in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was released in April 2006 by Universal Music. It features Luv's greatest hits scored in a dozen of countries, album songs, bonus tracks and remixes.
You're the Greatest LUVer is a German 1998 compilation album by Dutch girl group Luv' which features hit singles and album tracks from the formation's heyday (1977–1981).
The Universal Masters Collection: LUV is a budget-priced compilation album by Dutch girl group Luv' released by Universal Music Netherlands in 2001. It includes songs from the most prosperous phase of the formation's career (1977–1979) as they were under contract with Phonogram/Philips Records. The rights to the Phonogram back catalogue are held by Mercury Records/Universal Music. Hit singles like "You're the Greatest Lover", "Trojan Horse" and "Casanova" were successful in a large part of Continental Europe.
Ria Thielsch is a former model and an ex-member of the Dutch girl group Luv'. She was officially introduced to the public with the release of the album Forever Yours and the single My Number One. March 1981 saw Luv's first break-up. The trio went through lineup changes and made several comebacks. Between March 2016 and December 2018, Ria was active as a Luv' singer again. She is of Indo (Dutch-Indonesian) descent.
Hollands Glorie: Luv' is a budget-priced compilation album by Dutch girl group Luv' released by CNR Records in 2002. It features hit singles scored in the charts between 1979 and 1981: "Ooh, Yes I Do", "Ann-Maria", "One More Little Kissie", "My Number One" and "Tingalingaling". These songs originate from their studio albums True Luv' (1979) and Forever Yours (1980). They are part of the CNR back catalogue and are licensed from Hans van Hemert productions, except the "Megamix '93" renamed "Hit-medley (Megamix)".
25 Jaar Na Waldolala is a compilation album of recordings by Dutch pop group Luv' released by Universal Music in the Netherlands in 2003. It features smash hits, Spanish versions of four songs, previously unreleased tracks on CD and solo recordings by José Hoebee and Marga Scheide.
Back In Luv' is a DVD compilation by Dutch girl group Luv'. It includes TV performances of the original line-up recorded during their heyday. It was released by Princess Entertainment in 2006 when Luv's schedule was hectic again as the pop formation had reunited.
"With Him Tonight" is a single by Dutch girl group Luv'. This song performed in English and Spanish was released on July 4, 2019. Luv' had not put out new material since the All You Need Is Luv' album in 1994. "With Him Tonight" was recorded by the original members Marga Scheide and José Hoebee as well as Chimène van Oosterhout.