José Hoebee, Marga Scheide & Patty Brard presenting "Lots of Luv" at the Amsterdam Lido on May 15th, 1979
Forty-five years ago precisely, on May 15th, 1979, the release party of Luv's second album, "Lots of Luv'", was held at the Lido in Amsterdam. This masterpiece of pop music included the hit singles "Casanova" and "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe". Let's celebrate the 45th anniversary of this iconic LP.
History
In 1978 and 1979, Luv' enjoyed widespread popularity across Europe and beyond (Israel, South Africa, Zimbabwe) with million-selling hit singles such as "You're the Greatest Lover" and "Trojan Horse" and their debut album "With Luv'".
Their subsequent single, "Casanova", further solidified their fame, charting in multiple European countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Spain).
Luv' not only interested radio stations and TV channels but also attracted the youth and tabloid press. Holland's most-read newspaper, De Telegraaf, often tracked their every move and paid attention to their love lives. Patty Brard and quizmaster Ron Brandsteder were engaged at the time, and José van de Wijdeven broke up with her first husband, Marteen Andreoli. It turned out that José was dating the Dutch record producer Will Hoebee, whom she married a couple of years later.
Luv' and Village People lead singer Victor Willis in Bravo Magazine (Germany, April 11th, 1979)
Hitkrant, April 19th, 1979: Luv' narrowly escapes death during the taping of the TROS Top 50 TV show. A gigantic disco ball crashes down in front of the group's members
Ron Brandsteder & Patty Brard at a showbiz party in honour of French crooner Charles Aznavour - De Telegraaf, May 10th, 1979
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De Telegraaf - May 22nd, 1979: José leaves her husband
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De Telegraaf - May 28th, 1979: Will Hoebee, the new man in José's life
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Algemeen Dagblad, June 11th, 1979: Patty Brard with Yvonne Groot, Miss Teenage 1979
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Hitkrant, June 14th, 1979: Luv's car crash in Ibiza. Patty sligthly injured in the arm.
Despite sensationalist articles in the press, the girls continued their activities, including the launch of their second album entitled "Lots of Luv'". Luv's producers and songwriters, Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, had high expectations for this record. They achieved a real tour de force. Their winning formula: catchy songs with ABBA-esque arrangements (Money Honey), melodies influenced by Boney M. (Eeny Meeny Miny Moe), disco music (Saint Tropez, Shoes off), Spanish/Latin American music (Casanova, Marcellino), Europop (I.M.U.R, In The Night Of Love), and sounds inspired by the light-hearted retro music from the 1960s (Dandy). The neo bubblegum pop track "I like sugar candy kisses" was an alternate cover version of a 1977 song by Ronnie, a singing child star from Van Hemert's artist roster.
Fun fact: an actual American radio DJ, stationed at the Soesterberg US Air Base in the Netherlands, was hired to record "DJ", a track from "Lots of Luv".
Ads published in the Dutch press to promote "Lots of Luv'" (1979)
Ruud van Dulkrenraad's positive review of Lots of Luv in Hitkrant (1979)
Hitkrant, 1979: An American radio DJ on Luv's track "DJ"
On May 15th, 1979, the release party of "Lots Of Luv'" took place at the Lido, a prestigious café-restaurant in Amsterdam. This event coincided with great news: Actor Rijk de Gooyer gave the three Luv' singers platinum awards to celebrate the good sales of "You're Greatest Lover" and "Trojan Horse".
The Lido in Amsterdam, where the "Lots of Luv" release party took place
Rijk de Gooyer giving Luv' gold and platinum records
The press published articles about this flamboyant party.
Het Vrije Volk - May 16th, 1979
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De Waarheid - May 17th, 1979
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The Luv' girls with their proud parents at the Lots of Luv release party
Joepie - June 4th, 1979
Source: Patrick De Graeve (Weetjes over popmuziek - Facebook)
Nieuwe Winterswijksche courant - June 8th, 1979
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Reviews of Lots of Luv' in the German press were also favorable.
Photography
Claude Vanheye (who photographed the Who's Who of Dutch and international pop-rock artists) captured the group's striking visuals for the album cover. The front cover photo showed the ladies as sexy cowgirls. On the back cover, they posed in sailor suits beside a shirtless marine flexing his muscles.
Release
Lots of Luv' came out in various editions.
To know details about the release of this album: click here
Photo montage by Marco Rens
Tracklisting
Lots of Luv' - 12-inch LP vinyl record and cassette - released in May 1979 by Phonogram/Philips Records
Front cover
A Side:
"Casanova" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:48
"Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" (Janschen & Janschens) - 2:46
"DJ" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:20
"Shoes Off (Boots On)" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:07
"Marcellino" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:14
"Dandy" (Janschen & Janschens) - 2:46
B Side:
"The Night Of Love" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:32
"Money, Honey" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:16
"I.M.U.R" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:35
"I Like Sugar Candy Kisses" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:34
"If You Love Me" (Janschen & Janschens) - 2:34
"Saint Tropez" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:04
Back cover of Lots of Luv'
Album credits:
Luv'
José Hoebee - vocals
Marga Scheide - vocals
Patty Brard - vocals
Additional personnel:
Ernö Olah & Metropole Orkest - strings
Production:
Producer: Hans van Hemert
Arranger/conductor: Piet Souer
Photography: Claude Vanheye
Design: Jan H. van Uden
Art Direction: Clouds Studio
Japanese edition
Reissues
In 2006, the album was digitally remastered by Universal Music as part of the "Completely In Luv'" CD box set with the same track listing and four bonus tracks:
"Trojan Horse" (Janschen & Janschens) – 3:24
"Casanova" (Spanish version) (Alfred Garrido, Janschen & Janschens) – 3:49
"Luv' Hitpack" (Janschen & Janschens) – 5:29 Long version: Casanova/Life Is On My Side/U.O.Me/Casanova/You're The Greatest Lover/Life Is On My Side/Trojan Horse/Everybody's Shakin' Hands On Broadway/Casanova
"All You Need Is Luv' Jingle" (Janschen & Janschens) – 0:12
On October 21st, 2014, Lots of Luv' became available on major digital platforms (including YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify & Deezer), allowing new generations to enjoy its timeless appeal.
Commercial response and chart performance
As a manufactured pop group that targeted youngsters, Luv' were more successful on the singles charts than on the albums charts. Indeed, 7" singles were popular among teenagers in the 1970s. Lots of Luv' entered the Dutch charts on May 26th, 1979. It later reached the Top 10 in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, the Top 20 in Austria and Switzerland, and the Top 40 in Germany. The album eventually turned gold and platinum in Holland (150.000 copies).
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #7 on the LP Top 50 (Netherlands)
Debut date: May 26th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 22
🇳🇱 #4 on the Nationale Hitparade LP Top 50 (Netherlands)
Debut date: June 2nd, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 28
🇧🇪 #6 on the Billboard Benelux chart - Top 10 (Belgium)
Debut date: June 12th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 2
🇩🇰 #8 on the BT Hitlisten/IFPI - Top 10 (Denmark)
🇨🇭 #11 on the Der Musikmarkt: Schweizer Hitparade - Top 25 (Switzerland)
Debut date: June 15th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 10
🇩🇪 #39 on the Media Control Chart - Top 50 (Germany)
Debut date: July 2nd, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 3
🇦🇹 #13 on the Alben Top 25 (Austria)
Debut date: July 15th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 3
Certifications:
🇳🇱 Netherlands:
Gold album - 50.000 certified copies - 1979
Platinum album - 100.000 certified copies - 1979
Total Sales:
🇳🇱 Netherlands: 150.000 copies - 1979
NVPI (Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld - en geluidsdragers), the Dutch trade association of the entertainment industry, certified "Lots of Luv" gold and platinum in 1979.
Photo of Lots of Luv Gold-platinum certification posted on Patty Brard's Instagram account in 2021
Legacy
In 2006, music critic Metal Mike Saunders of American music website "Bubblegum University" considered Holland's greatest girl group as an "Über ABBA" and their second album "Lots of Luv" as the "Holy Grail of ABBA-Sound".
The March 13th, 2021 issue of the Dutch TV guide "VPRO Gids" featured a caricature of the female politicians Sylvana Simons (BIJ1), Lilian Marijnissen (SP) and Lilianne Ploumen (PVDA) as Luv' singers. This drawing was made by the renowned cartoonist Typex, who won the Stripschapprijs, the most significant Dutch prize awarded to comic creators, in 2019. Typex used the iconic front cover of "Lots of Luv'" as an inspiration for his caricature.
Front cover of VPRO Gids featuring a drawing by Typex (2021)
Bibliography:
Albumdossier 1969-1972 by Johan van Slooten, publ: Becht's Uitgevers
Source: Official Luv' (Facebook), Marco Rens, Wikipedia, Delpher.nl, Discogs.com, Dutchcharts.nl, Austriancharts.nl, Charts.de, Krant van Toen...
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