Luv'

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Luv'
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Netherlands
Genre = Pop, disco, dance
Years_active = 1975–present
Years_active = 1977–"present"
Label = Philips Records / Phonogram Records / Mercury Records (currently: Universal Music Group), CNR/Carrere Records, High Fashion Music/Dureco, RCA Records/BMG, Arcade
Current_members = Marga Scheide (1977-1981, 1989-1994, 2005-present)
José Hoebee (1977-1981, 1993-1994, 2005-present)
Patty Brard (1977-1980, 1993-1994, 2005-present)
Past_members = Ria Thielsch (1980-1981)
Diana van Berlo (1989-1992)
Michelle Gold (1989-1990)
Carina Lemoine

Luv' is a Dutch pop girl group which scored a string of successful hit records in a large part of Continental Europe (Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Denmark, Poland) and also South Africa and Mexico in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1979, Luv' was Holland's best export act and thus received the Conamus Export Prize [ [http://www.bumacultuur.nl/nl/page/activiteiten/prijzen] - List of the Conamus Export Prize winners; Conamus (currently: Buma Cultuur) is an organisation which promotes Dutch music artists abroad. Every year, since 1972, this foundation has presented an Export Prize to reward the best selling Export acts from the Netherlands. ] . Among their greatest hits: U.O.Me (Welcome To Waldolala), You're the Greatest Lover, Trojan Horse, Casanova and Ooh, Yes I Do. This female vocal formation made several comebacks. Luv' is currently making appearances on TV and live performances across the Netherlands and the Flanders.

Biography

Luv's creation

In 1976, two Dutch music producers, Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, and a 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 composition My Man and were looking for singers. They recruited three women :

- José Hoebee, born on March 29. 1954 in Best (a village in the south of the Netherlands). She started her career as a professional singer in the early 1970’s as a member of a folk & country band, "Young Tradition", formed with her two sisters. This formation took part in casting shows, changed its name into "Elongi" and recorded a single produced by Piet Souer who suggested José to join Luv'.

- Marga Scheide, who was model born on February 15. 1954 in Amsterdam.

- Patty Brard, from Sorong in New Guinea, born on March 25. 1955, who first applied for a job as a secretary by Hans van Hemert who offered her a career in the show business.

Luv's heyday (1977-1981)

1977-1978: Luv's breakthrough

After the singles My Man (#12 in Holland and a Flemish Top 10 hit) and Dream, Dream (which failed to top the charts) had come out in 1977, Van Hemert was asked by VPRO (a Dutch TV channel) to write a theme for a programme: Waldolala (a spin-off from "Van Oekels Discohoek", which started in 1974). With the help from Souer, he composed U.O.Me (Welcome To Waldolala) which was recorded by the girls. Moreover, Luv' appeared in this TV show. It became an instant hit in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium) (a Top 5 hit in both countries).

1978-1981: Luv's international career

The You're the Greatest Lover single was their international breakthrough in 1978 and one million units of this record were sold. Apart from its homeland, Luv' topped the music charts in Belgium, in France, in Germany, in Austria, in Switzerland, in Denmark, in Poland, in South Africa and in Mexico. The follow-up singles ( Trojan Horse (a million seller), Casanova, Ooh, Yes I Do...) were 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 works the Export award (2,5 million records) from Conamus, a foundation dedicated to the promotion and support of Dutch music abroad.

In Germany, the trio was often invited in two popular TV programmes: Disco (TV series) and Musikladen (other celebrities such as ABBA, Amanda Lear, Boney M, Wham, Village People, The Jacksons, Sister Sledge, Chic or Blondie also sang in these shows).
You're the Greatest Lover ( which reached the gold status in Germany because 600 000 copies were sold in this country) was also used for the soundtrack of the fifty fourth (or in other words) the second episode of the sixth season (entitled Anschlag auf Bruno) of Derrick (TV series) [ [http://www.derrick-fanclub.de/filmmusik.htm Music Tracklisting of Derrick episodes] ] . Two decades later, a dance music oriented cover version of this track by Loona renamed "Latino Lover" [ [http://www.loona.com Loona's official website] ] was a hit single in German speaking countries (#6 and gold single (250 000 units sold) in Germany, #9 in Austria and #6 in Switerzland in 2000).

Some tracks were recorded in Spanish. "Eres Mi Mejor Amante" (a.k.a You're the Greatest Lover) was a minor hit in Spain and "Si, Que Si" (a.k.a Ooh, Yes I Do) was a #1 single in Mexico where it reached the gold status.

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 Gulden contract with CNR/Carrere, a Dutch French joint venture).

After the One More Little Kissie single was released during the summer of 1980, Patty Brard suddenly left the band. She was immediately replaced by a model and limbo dancer from the Ricardo and The Flames revue, Ria Thielsch born on August 25. 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 Holland and Belgium. Luv' was supposed to take part in the Yamaha Music Festival (officially known as the "World Popular Song Festival" and considered as the "Oriental Eurovision") in November 1980 with the song "Be My Lover Tonight" [ [http://home.scarlet.be/~peterg3/Continents&Countries.htm#Netherlands Details about the Netherlands participation in the World Popular Song Festival] ] . Instead of it, Luv' cancelled their participation to this competition and performed in the Musikladen TV show in Germany.

1981: Break-up

In March 1981, the girls and their team annonced Luv's break-up. They were expected to sing at a UNICEF gala in Greece and to promote their recordings in Japan, Soviet Union and Australia. The group made a farewell performance in August 1981 in the "Nederland Muziekland" show on the Veronica (TV channel) by singing Tingalingaling (which was released as a single). This final broadcast was filmed at the Efteling theme park during Hitkrant's Zomerspelen (a summer multi-sport event with Dutch celebrities which was organized by Hitkrant, a teen magazine). Then a compilation album (Goodbye Luv') came out.
Luv' sold from 1977 to 1981 seven million records (singles and albums) [Total record sales mentionned at page 10 of CD booklet of "25 Jaar Na Waldolala" written by Skip Voogd] .

Luv's comebacks

1988: Samen

In 1988, the original line-up was reunited for a Dutch TV charity show ("Samen"). Luv' later planned to record a come back album. The British producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman (famous for the songs they composed for Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Dead or Alive, Sonya, Jason Donovan, Big Fun, Samantha Fox, Lonnie Gordon, Mel & Kim, Bananarama and Donna Summer) were said to produce this opus. However, it never happened.

Then, José and Patty didn't want to belong to the band anymore.

1989 - 1992: Luv's new formula

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 22th position in the Dutch charts and the 28th position in the Flemish charts in the autumn of 1989. Moreover, the trio was involved with other Dutch girl groups (Frizzle Sizzle, Mai Tai...) 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 splitted up in 1992.

1993 - 1994: Luv' Gold

Because of the 1970s revival 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 topped the Dutch charts (respectively #14 and #23 in the hit lists). The ladies went on tour in Holland, Belgium, Germany and Denmark.Then, what turned out to be their last studio album ("All You Need Luv) was issued by an independent label (Roman Disc) and only available in Kruidvat"' (a Dutch chain of drugstores) failed to enter the hit lists. Later, José, Patty and Marga broke up again.

In 2003, to celebrate Luv's 25th anniversary, a double CD compilation ("25 Jaar Na Waldolala") was released by Universal Music Netherlands. This Greatest Hits album contains bonus tracks: Spanish versions of four hit singles plus José and Marga's solo recordings.

2005 - present: Back In Luv'

In 2005, Luv' made a surprise showcase at the 40 year business anniversary of Hans van Hemert. One year later, a docusoap ("Back In Luv") about their comeback was broadcast on RTL 5 (a Dutch TV channel) and on VTM (a Flemish channel), a DVD (also entitled "Back In Luv") and a 4 CD Box (Completely In Luv' with bonus tracks and remixes) came out. On May 26th, 27th and 28th 2006, Luv' and Bobby Farrell (of Boney M) were the guest stars during three big shows of the Toppers (a group with three popular singers in the Netherlands: Gerard Joling, René Froger and Gordon) in the Amsterdam ArenA. [ [http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/rene_froger.887.html Popinstituut] Biography René Froger. (Dutch) Accessed: October 8, 2006] Nowadays, Patty, Marga and José perform in TV shows and are often booked for live performances (in discos, private parties, corporate events and festivals). Luv' is one of the few fully manufactured bands of the Disco and Dance era to be on stage with the original line-up (unlike Boney M. and Village People).

Luv' music videos on Youtube and Dailymotion

* Luv's "Hitmedley" live from the Amsterdam ArenA (during the concert of the Toppers; broadcast on Talpa/Tien (a Dutch TV channel) in 2006): ( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Piwsijx_3hM] on Youtube)

* Luv' performing a medley of their greatest hits live for the Radio 2 Top 2000 In Concert show, broadcast on NPS/Nederland 3 on December 31. 2006:( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Goei9axBrso] on Youtube)

* My Man from Musikladen, a German TV show (1977):( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MFt3VaBYJs&feature=related] on Youtube)

* Luv's appeareance in the TV series Waldolala in 1978. The singers are performing U.O.Me"':( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoewYPucIEI] on Youtube)

* Luv' performing U.O.Me for the All You Need Is Luv' TV special on TROS (1978): [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZiqqEcQ0Kg&feature=related] on Youtube)

* Luv' performing U.O.Me in Toppop, a music TV show on TROS (1978): [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XfpH_wjh7w&feature=related] on Youtube)

* Luv' performing You're the Greatest Lover in the German TV show Disco (1978): ( [http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/Luv%27%2BYou%27re%2BThe%2BGreatest%2B/video/xh111_luv-youre-the-greatest-lover] on dailymotion)

* Trojan Horse from the "All You Need Is Luv" TV special on TROS (1978): ( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIhb6BHjQCk] on Youtube)

* Trojan Horse in the "Showbizzquiz" on TROS (1978):( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xWEOJ04wI4] on Youtube)

* Trojan Horse in the Disco TV show in Germany (1978):( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=759Rs8cHV-M&mode=related&search=] on Youtube)

* Casanova from Musikladen, German TV show (1979):( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLUCmQ_3QYc] on Youtube)

* Eeny Meeny Miny Moe from Musikladen, German TV show (1979):( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApEZ3oYVXBI&mode=related&search=] on Youtube)

* Ooh, Yes I Do from Musikladen, German TV show (1979):( [http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/Luv%27+Ooh+Yes+I+do/video/x2ncac_luv-ooh-yes-i-do_music] on dailymotion)
* Ooh, Yes I Do from the German Disco TV show (1980):( [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj8K519KoiY] on Youtube)

* Luv' formation (featuring Marga Scheide) different from the original trio performing Sentimental Fool in the TV programme Service Salon on AVRO in 1991: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU-daqfgYL0] on Youtube)

Luv' in the record charts

"Singles"

(peak position in the singles charts) :

* My Man" (1977) : N°12 in the Netherlands, N°10"' in Flanders (Belgium).
*U.O.Me (Theme from Waldolala) (1978) : N°3 in the Netherlands and N°2 in Flanders (Belgium).
*You're the Greatest Lover (1978) : N°1 in the Netherlands, in Flanders (Belgium), in Germany, in Switerzland and Denmark, N°2 in Austria, N°15 in South Africa, N°37 in France.
* Trojan Horse (1978) : N°1 in the Netherlands, in Flanders (Belgium), in Denmark and Poland, N°2 in Austria and Switzerland, N°3 in Germany, N°17 in South Africa, N°36 in France.
* Casanova (1979) : N°2 in Austria, N°3 in Denmark, N°4 in Switerzland, N°5 in Flanders (Belgium), N°6 in the Netherlands and Germany.
* Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (1979) : N°9 in Flanders (Belgium), N°11 in the Netherlands, N°14 in Denmark, N°28 in Switzerland , N°36 in Germany.
*Ooh, Yes I Do (1979) : N°1 in Mexico, N°2 in Denmark, N°5 in the Netherlands, N°7 in Belgium, N°27 in Germany, N°44 en France.
*Ann-Maria (1980) : N°10 in Flanders (Belgium), N°11 in the Netherlands, N°13 in Denmark and N°37 in Germany.
*One More Little Kissie (1980) : N°9 in the Netherlands, N°15 in Flanders (Belgium), N°17 in Denmark and N°75 in Germany.
* My Number One (1980) : N°5 in the Netherlands and in Flanders (Belgium) and N°60 in Germany.
*Tingalingaling (1981) : N°29 in the Netherlands.
*Welcome to My Party (1989) : N°22 in the Netherlands and N°28 in Belgium.
*Megamix '93 (1993) : N°23 in the Netherlands.

Albums

(peak position in the album charts) :

*With Luv' (1978) : N°6 in the Netherlands, N°50 in Germany and N°15 in Austria.
*Lots Of Luv' (1979) : N°7 in the Netherlands, N°39 in Germany and N°13 in Austria.
*True Luv' (1979) : N°13 in the Netherlands.
*Forever Yours (1980) : N°13 in the Netherlands.
*Luv' Gold (1993) : N°13 in the Netherlands.
*Completely In Luv' (2006) : N°95 in the Netherlands.

Year End Charts: Singles

- NETHERLANDS:
*1977: My Man: #155
*1978: You're the Greatest Lover: #7, U.O.Me (Theme from Waldolala): #21, Trojan Horse: #68
*1979: Casanova: #55, Ooh, Yes I Do: #84, Eeny Meeny Miny Moe : #114, Trojan Horse: #124
*1980: My Number One: #89, One More Little Kissie: #96, Ann-Maria: #100, Ooh, Yes I Do: #198
*1981: My Number One:#219, Tingalingaling: #256
*1989: Welcome To My Party: #200
*1993: Megamix '93: #178

- GERMANY:
*1978: You're the Greatest Lover:#11, Trojan Horse: #79
*1979: Trojan Horse: #17, Casanova: #61, You're the Greatest Lover: #66

-SWITERZLAND:
*1978: You're the Greatest Lover:#18
*1979: Trojan Horse: #19

-AUSTRIA:
*1979: Trojan Horse: #10, You're the Greatest Lover: #14, Casanova: #27

Charts sources

*Dutch charts : nl icon [http://www.radio538.nl/top40.html Stichting Nederlandse Top 40] , [http://www.megacharts.nl Megacharts/Media Control & Gfk International]
*Belgian charts :nl icon [http://radio2.be/top30overzichtarchief.cfm BRT Top 30/Radio 2 Top 30]
*German charts : de [http://www.charts-surfer.de/musiksearch.php Search engine/German music data base: Musikmarkt/Media Control ]
*Swiss charts : en icon [http://swisscharts.com/ Swisscharts.com]
*Austrian charts : de [http://austriancharts.com/ Austriancharts.com]
*French charts: fr icon [http://www.infodisc.fr/Bilan_L.php Hit Parade RTL] [Before the French Top 50 (which was the first official music charts based on record sales in France) appeared in 1984, the hit parade of the radio station RTL was one of hitlists acknowledged by the music business. It was based on the listeners requests and RTL programme scheduling.]
*Danish charts : BT Hitlisten
*South African charts : en icon [http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(L).html www.rock.co.za]

Luv's awards and gold/platinum certifications

* Netherlands:
** 1978: U.O.Me (Theme from Waldolala), You're the Greatest Lover and Trojan Horse: Gold and platinum singles [Gold and platinum awards given by the [http://www.nvpi.nl/ Dutch recording industry association] ]
** 1978: Veronica Top 40 Awards for reaching the number one position in the Top 40 with the singles You're the Greatest Lover and Trojan Horse
** 1979: With Luv' and Lots Of Luv' : Gold and platinum albums
** 1979: Conamus Export Prize for being the best Dutch Export music act and their whole repertoire (sales of 2,5 million records (singles + albums) between 1977 and 1979).
** 1980: True Luv' and Forever Yours : Gold albums

* Belgium:
** 1979: You're the Greatest Lover and Trojan Horse: Gold and platinum singles [gold and platinum certifications are given by the Belgian recording industry association (IFPI Belgium)]

* Germany:
**1979: You're the Greatest Lover : Gold single (600 000 units sold) [Gold certifications given by the German recording industry association (IFPI Deutschland)]

* Austria:
**1979: You're the Greatest Lover : Gold single [Gold certifications given by the Austrian recording industry association (IFPI Austria)]

*Mexico:
**1980: "Si Que Si" (Spanish version of Ooh, Yes I Do): Gold disc

Luv's record deals

Luv' was inspired by ABBA’s example which created its own limited company to sign deals with different record companies in every territory to control the distribution of their records.

In Continental European countries, Luv’ had a contract with Philips Records/Phonogram (part of PolyGram, the music division of Philips at this time) from 1977 to 1979.

Afterwards, the trio signed a 750 000 Dutch Gulden record deal with CNR in order to let Carrere Records (a French label) distribute their discs around the world. This contract (which lasted from 1979 to 1981) was considered by the newspaper De Telegraaf as the show business transfer of the year [ [http://zylab.npi.nl/article.aspx?id=29686 Aricle from De Telegraaf about Luv's transfer to CNR Carrere"'] .

Meanwhile, Luv’ had a deal with Privat Stock in the UK, with WEA for the Japanese market and with the West and Meteor labels in Turkey. However, the group didn’t have any hit singles in these countries.

As they changed their label in 1979, 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 periode.

With this strategy, Luv’ s records were also issued in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Ecuador, Argentina, Zimbabwe, China, South Africa and Mexico (by the Discos Musart label). There were eighty seven record pressings in about thirty countries

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, the Dutch female pop trio disbanded and stopped its contracts

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 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 topped the album charts in Holland.
Then, they recorded their last studio album (All You Need Is Luv'), issued by an independent label (Roman Disc) and only available in Kruidvat, a Dutch chain of dugstores.

Nowadays, Luv’s back catalogue belongs to the Hans van Hemert Productions and Universal Music Netherlands which released compilations (like 25 Jaar Na Waldolala and Completely In Luv').

Discography

References

External links

* [http://muziek.clubs.nl/luv] - Luv's fanclub official site (in Dutch)
* [http://www.universalmusic.nl/artist_detail.php?aid=+Luv] - page about Luv' on the Dutch subsidiary of Universal Music
* [http://www.popinstituut.nl/act_pagina/luv.2594.html] - Page about Luv' on the Dutch Rock And Pop Institute website (in Dutch)
* [http://www.hollandrocks.nl/bio/bz2594.html] - infos about Luv's career on the Dutch Rock and Pop Institute website (in English)
* [http://allaboutluv.tripod.com] - Site about Luv' in English
* [http://www.meidengroepen.nl] - Website about the Dutch girls groups in the 1970s and the 1980s (in Dutch)