In early 1993, record producer Hans van Hemert and the Luv' ladies appeared on VARA/Nederland 3's program "De Verleiding" to discuss the group's image, the dance routines, their cooperation and their success in the late 1970's. This TV show provoked positive reactions and to some extent led to Luv's comeback twenty years ago (see Chapter VIII of the biography). I've uploaded this video to YouTube and I've added subtitles in English for the non-Dutch speaking fans of the trio.
Recently, I posted the eighth chapter of Luv's biography which dealt with the reunion in the 1990s (click here to read it). One of the most important event of this era was the release of the "Luv' Gold" compilation. Thanks to its presence on the charts, Luv's revival was a fact. 20 years ago, on May 15th 1993, the anthology entered the charts as well as a track taken from it: "Megamix '93". Let's remember and celebrate these wonderful records.
Luv' on the British Virgin Islands in 1993
History
Before Luv' Gold, a few compilations came out. The most significant were "Greatest Hits" (by Philips/Phonogram in 1979), "Goodbye Luv'" (by CNR/Carrere in 1981) and another "Greatest Hits" (by Mercury/Phonogram in 1989). But they were rush-released and the ladies were not involved in their conception. As a result, they were not really hits and it was too early for a resurgence of interest in Luv's music. Only the 1979's Greatest Hits spent nine weeks on the Nationale Hitparade LP Top 50 in Holland and peaked at #21. This performance is weak in comparison with Luv's triumph on the single charts. In the late 1970s, the majority of the group's fans were youngsters and they bought more 7-inch singles than LPs.
Greatest Hits (1979 version)
Goodbye Luv' (1981)
Greatest Hits (1989 CD version)
But in early 1993, things were different. ABBA's and Boney M's "Gold" compilations were successful worldwide. It was the perfect timing for Luv' (as a super pop act from the 1970s) to release their own "Gold" CD.
Will Hoebee (José's husband) was mesmerized by the impact of the above-mentioned albums and had the idea to put out a singles collection. The fans were waiting impatiently for this miracle to happen and a new generation was ready to enjoy the music their parents or big sisters and brothers listened to when they were younger. Arcade Records was interested in this project and in March 1993, Luv' signed a deal with the label.
The CD's booklet featured a short bio of Luv's impressive career and beautiful photos.
Scans of the "Gold" booklet (click on the pictures to enlarge them):
The release party of "Luv' Gold" took place in late April at the iconic "iT" club in Amsterdam.
Patty, Marga & José drove the public wild at "De iT" in 1993
"Gold" was the first exhaustive compilation of the trio as it included songs from their Philips/Phonogram years (1977-1979) and their CNR/Carrere era (1979-1981). Hits like "Ooh, Yes I Do", "Ann-Maria" or "My Number One" were compiled on CD for the first time. A bonus song was added to the track listing and released as a single: "Megamix '93", a non-stop house mix of Luv's classics produced by Dancability (featuring Martin Boer of 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor). It was common practice for Disco and Dance acts to conceive a Megamix. It was also an easy way to turn old into new and to conquer the hit parades again:
Impact on the hit parade
One of the numerous articles covering Luv's renaissance in 1993
The essential ingredients for success were there: the 1970s nostalgia, the reunion of the original Luv' singers, a good promotion campaign (De iT, TV shows, radio interviews, photo shoots for the press....). On May 15th, both Luv' Gold and Megamix '93 entered the Dutch charts. Gold later peaked at #14 on the LP Top 50 and #9 on the Mega Album Top 100. It stayed 18 weeks on the charts and eventually sold 40.000 copies in the Netherlands. These are respectable sales for the original line-up who had not been active for 13 years. Nowadays the CD would reach the gold status according to the current certification criteria.
The Megamix spent 5 weeks on the charts and reached Nr. 17 on the Single Top 100 and the 23rd position on the Dutch Top 40. From a commercial perspective, 1993 can be considered as the last year of Luv's impact on Holland's mainstream music market. Back in the day, the music industry was making profits and was not suffering crisis. Other "Best Of" albums or ambitions projects (like the "25 Jaar Na Waldolala" double CD and the "Completely In Luv" box set) were planned later but did not reach the level of popularity of "Gold". Source: Dutchcharts.nl, Wikipedia, personal archives, Luv' Official Fan Club, De Krant van Toen....
In late 1988 and early 1989, the original Luv' ladies were close to reuniting. But JoséHoebee and PattyBrard gave up. MargaScheide relaunched the group with two other girls (see previous Chapter). This new formation only scored a Top 30 single ( "Welcome To My Party") and a minor hit ("He's My Guy"). Despite their weak chart performance, the trio remained busy on television and on stage. Their Christmas show in Dubai to support Dutch marines in 1990 generated lots of publicity. But the public missed the magic of the initial line-up and in 1992 Marga's Luv' disbanded.
On January 14th 1993, "De Verleiding" (a TV program on VARA/Nederland 3) featured an interview with Patty, Marga, José and their former producer Hans van Hemert. They discussed the marketing concept of the manufactured band "Luv'" (the dance routines, the image, the cooperation between the members...). Their appearance on television caused a wave of positive reactions.
Meanwhile, a nostalgia for the 1970's spread like wildfire in the fashion and record industries. Bell bottoms and platform shoes were trendy again. The music video of Madonna's "Deeper and Deeper" (which premiered in December 1992) was a tribute to the decade of Rock and Disco. "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz sounded like an early '70s rock hit. The video of "Be My Baby" by French lolita Vanessa Paradis (also produced by Kravitz) was praised for its replication of the "Hippie" imagery. The "Gold" compilations of ABBA and Boney M. sold million copies worldwide. It was the right moment for Luv' to make a comeback.
Back to the 1970s....
Madonna in "Deeper and Deeper"
Vanessa Paradis in "Be My Baby"
ABBA
Boney M.
José's husband, record producer Will Hoebee had a wonderful idea: why not put out a "Luv' Gold" CD with the hits of the "1977-1981" period? Arcade Records was interested in the project and signed a deal with the three singers. A "Megamix '93" produced by Dancability (featuring Martin Boer of 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor) was added to the track listing of the anthology and released as a single.
Luv' signing their deal with Arcade Records
Luv' started their promotion campaign on RTL 4's "De Staatsloterijshow" to perform "Megamix '93" on April 20th. It was a highly covered event.
Luv' on De Staatsloterijshow
A week later, the ladies gave a memorable performance at Amsterdam's iconic gay club "de It". They were chauffeured by limousine to the famous disco like real stars. Many enthusiastic fans attended the show as well as Dutch celebrities (including Gordon, Anita Meijer, Bonnie St. Claire, Saskia & Serge, Gerard Joling and the cast of "Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden" soap opera). TV personality and comedian Paul de Leeuw gave the group the first copy of their new CD. Luv' was back for good!!!
Luv's show at De iT
Luv' & Paul de Leeuw
To watch the video of Luv's performance at De iT, click here Shortly after this flamboyant show, another "Luv' Gold" release party took place in Belgium. Patty, José and Marga received the first Flemish copy of their album from Koen Wouters (lead singer of the Pop-rock band "Clouseau").
Luv' and Koen Wouters of Clouseau
On May 15th, Luv' entered the charts with their long-awaited compilation (which later peaked at #9 on the Mega Album Top and #14 on the LP Top 50) and "Megamix '93" (which reached #17 on the Single Top 100 and #23 on the Dutch Top 40). Luv's CD spent 18 weeks on the hit parade - a respectable result for a 1970's pop act whose original formation had not scored a hit since 1980. To watch the TV commercial of "Luv' Gold", click here
Luv's summer agenda was hectic. The girls toured the club circuit in Holland and Flanders. They appeared on three shows on Veronica channel: "Nederland Muziekland" (on July 3rd) to perform their "Megamix", "Discover the World with Luv" (a TV special taped on the British Virgin Islands during the Peter Stuyvesant Windsurf Tour which aired on July 6th) and "Hollandse Hits Festival" (with a live performance of a medley of Dutch songs).
Luv' backstage at "Muziekland Nederland"
Discover the World with Luv' (Veronica Special - July 1993)
Luv' at Veronica's Hollandse Hit Festival
The girls also went on a promo tour through German speaking countries and Denmark.
Luv' singing "Trojan Horse" on German television
To listen to an interview with Luv' on the Swiss radio, click here (part 1) and here (part 2).
In order to capitalize on Luv's renaissance, Ultrapop/Edel Music released a '93 remix of a "Dance-medley" (originally performed by the 1989 line-up). This single only came out in Germany, Switzerland and Austria but failed to break into the charts because it was not supported by the real Luv'.
Before Christmas 1993, a terrible news occurred and overshadowed the trio's revival: Pattywent bankrupt due to a bad management of her magazine "Hello" she had launched with her partner Eric Peute. Misled by her lover, the diva was obliged to auction all her possessions in late March 1994 and lost everything. This tragedy hit the headlines. Even the honorable NOS Journaal (Holland's equivalent for BBC News) covered this catastrophe.
Luv' in 1994 (photo credit: Arnold Kroone/Martin Vink)
Despite this misfortune, Luv' decided to record new material and released the "All You Need Is Luv" album. Experienced producers worked on the project: Piet Souer and Martin Duiser assisted by Koen van Baal supervised the recording sessions. Souer is familiar to the group's public as Hans van Hemert and him wrote the whole Luv' repertoire in their heyday. Duiser was an acclaimed artist as he was involved in the world famous Stars on 45 productions. Souer and Duiser had already teamed up in the 1980's to produce popular Dutch artists (including Anita Meyer). Keyboard player Koen van Baal had a career as an arranger and a session musician (for successful acts like German band Scorpions and Marco Borsato). "All You Need Is Luv'" consisted of thirteen tracks recorded in the Bolland studios (owned by the duo Bolland & Bolland) in Blaricum. Luv' covered "All You Need Is Love" (originally performed by The Beatles) in a reggae oriented tempo. Some songs were rendered in an Euro-dance style: "Don't Stop Now", "One More Night", "I Cried You Outta My Heart" and "Let's Go To The Paradise Of Love". Another track ("Your Love") had a Contemporary R&B influence. Other songs (including "Bad Reputation" and "Big Time Spender") had Pop rock elements. "No Johnny No Can Do" was an attempt to pay tribute to the camp and Latino style of Luv's debut. The album was released by Roman Disc and only available in Kruidvat shops (a chain of drugstores). Because of this limited distribution, the CD did not enter the album charts.
All You Need Is Luv' was reissued in 1995 and re-packaged as "One More Night" by Rondo Music/Pink Records. At that time, the group performed sporadically.
Patty was the Luv' girl who stayed the most in the spotlight thanks to her TV activities. In order to overcome her financial difficulties, she became workaholic and hosted a series of programs (Hart van de stad (RTL 4, 1994), Brard Gaat Extreem (RTL 5, 1994) and Onder de B van Brard (RTL 5, 1995).
Patty in the mid 1990s
As for José, she recorded in 1994 a duet with Bonnie St. Claire ('n Engel Als Jij), the Dutch cover version of a Teutonic track ("Ein Engel Wie Du" originally performed by Juliane Werding, Maggie Reilly & Viktor Lazlo).
Bonnie & José: 'n Engel Als Jij
Bonnie & José in 1995
José & Marga in 1994
After two public shows in 1996 (De iT (on May 18th) and the Ahoy Rotterdam (on October 20th), Luv' broke up. But the following years the three entertainers would get their names in the papers again. Their story is never ending....
Luv' at "de iT" (1996)
Backstage at De iT (photo courtesy of Martin Vink)
Performance at The Ahoy in October 1996
Backstage at the Ahoy (Photo courtesy of Martin Vink)
To be continued... Click here to read the next chapter.
Singles charts (peak positions):
Megamix '93: #23 on the Dutch Top 40 and #17 on the Single Top 100 (Netherlands)
Albums charts (peak positions):
Luv' Gold: #14 on the LP Top 50 and #9 on the Mega Album Top 100 (Netherlands)
Record releases
CD Singles & CD Maxi Singles:
1. Megamix '93
Released by Arcade Records in April 1993
CD Single:
"Megamix '93" (Radio Version) — 2:49
U.O.Me (Waldolala)/Trojan Horse/You're The Greatest Lover/Ooh, Yes I Do
"You're the Greatest Lover 1993" — 3:18
Maxi CD Single:
"Megamix" (Radio Version) — 2:49
U.O.Me (Waldolala)/Trojan Horse/You're The Greatest Lover/Ooh, Yes I Do
"You're the Greatest Lover 1993" — 3:18
"Megamix"
You're The Greatest Lover/Casanova/Ooh, Yes I Do/Trojan Horse/U.O.Me (Waldolala)
"Megamix '93" (Long Version) — 4:21
U.O.Me (Waldolala)/Trojan Horse/You're The Greatest Lover/Ooh, Yes I Do/Casanova
2. LUV Dance-Medley Released by Ultrapop/Edel Music in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 1993
Maxi CD Single:
"LUV Dance-Medley" (Club Edit) — 6:50
Luvely/You're the Greatest Lover/Trojan Horse/Yes I Do/Casanova/U.O.Me
"LUV Dance-Medley" — 3:28
Luvely/You're the Greatest Lover/Trojan Horse/Yes I Do/Casanova
"No Cure No Pay" (1993 version) — 3:21
12" Vinyl Single:
"LUV Dance-Medley" (Club Edit) — 6:50
Luvely/You're the Greatest Lover/Trojan Horse/Yes I Do/Casanova/U.O.Me
"LUV Dance-Medley" — 3:28
Luvely/You're the Greatest Lover/Trojan Horse/Yes I Do/Casanova
"No Cure No Pay" (1993 version) — 3:21
Albums
1. Luv' Gold
Released by Arcade Records in April 1993
Track listing:
"You're the Greatest Lover" - 2:51
"U.O.me (Waldolala)" - 2:58
"Trojan Horse" - 3:25
"My Man - 3:05
"Eeny Meeny Miny Moe - 2:59
"Ooh, Yes I Do" - 2:58
"I Like Sugar Candy Kisses" - 3:36
"Dream, Dream" - 3:30
"One More Little Kissie" - 3:46
"Life Is On My Side" - 2:38
"Ann-Maria - 4:41
"Casanova - 3:51
"I.M.U.R" - 3:36
"Tingalingaling - 2:31
"Boys Goodnight" - 2:39
"Getaway" - 3:04
"Shoes off (Boots on)" - 3:07
"My Number One" - 3:11
"Who Do You Wanna Be" - 3:42
"Megamix '93" - 2:49
All songs written by Hans van Hemertand Piet Souer (aka Janschen & Janschens)
Production: Hans van Hemert - producer, songwriter (track 1-19) Martin Boer & Dick Liefting for Dancability Productions - track 20 2. All You Need Is Luv Released by Roman Disc in 1994
Track listing:
"All You Need Is Love" (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 4:15
"Don't Stop Now" (Piet Souer - Martin Duiser) - 3:24
"Everything's Gonna Be Allright" (Piet Souer - Martin Duiser) - 4:00
"Shine On" (Piet Souer - Martin Duiser) - 3:28
"One More Night" (Koen van Baal) - 3:45
"I Cried You Outta My Heart" (Piet Souer - Martin Duiser) - 6:10
"You Love" (Koen van Baal) - 4:23
"Let's Go To The Paradise Of Love" (Piet Souer - Martin Duiser) - 4:00
"Bad Reputation" (Piet Souer - Martin Duiser) - 3:22
"No Johnny, No Can Do" (Piet Souer - Martin Duiser) - 3:38
"Big Time Spender" (Piet Souer - Martin Duiser) - 3:00
"Break" (Piet Souer - Martin Duiser) - 4:00
"Medley" (Janschen & Janschens) - 4:00 U.O.Me / You're the Greatest Lover / Casanova / My Number One
Credits: José Hoebee - vocals Marga Scheide - vocals Patty Brard - vocals Produced by Piet Souer and Martin Duiser Arranged by Koen van Baal except "Don't Stop Now" and "Big Time Spender" arranged by Piet Souer Recorded at M.D.P and Bolland Studios, Blaricum, Netherlands. Mixed by Piet Souer, Martin Duiser and Okkie Huysdens Cover Design: Henk-Jan Voordes
Re-issue: All You Need Is Luv was re-issued in 1995 by Rondo/Pink Records with another title (One More Night) and a different cover:
Press clippings
Source: Wikipedia, Luv' Official Fan Club, Discogs.com, De Krant van Toen....
Bibliography:
Hit-Lexikon des Rock und Pop Vol. 1 by Frank Laufenberg, publ. Verlag Ullstein, 2002
Top 40 Hitdossier 1956-2005 (9e editie) by Johan van Slooten published by Gottmer Becht Groep, 2006
Albumdossier 1969-2002 by Johan van Slooten published by Gottmer Becht Groep , 2002
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