Photo montage by Marco Rens
The Top 10 Luv' Songs list presents the ten most successful Luv' singles released during the trio's heyday (1977-1980). It is based on the commercial success of the records (including charts positions, the number of countries where they charted and certifications).
#10: My Man (released in May 1977 by Philips/Phonogram Records)
The lyrics of Luv's ABBA-esque debut record, "My Man", deals with the murder of a railroad man. It was a coincidence that around the time of its release, a hostage-taking happened in a train in De Punt, the Netherlands in late May and early June 1977. Despite a radio boycott, this single entered the record charts.
Charted in 2 countries: the Netherlands and Belgium
No certifications
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #12 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #12 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #10 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #11 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #47 on the Ultratop Wallonia (Belgium)
#9: One More Little Kissy (released in May 1980 by CNR/Carrere Records)
This track, containing exotica and bubblegum pop elements, was Luv's last single featuring Patty Brard before her departure in July 1980. It appears on the 1980 reissue of the group's third album "True Luv'" and the fourth LP "Forever Yours". Ria Thielsch replaced Patty in August 1980. She performed "One More Little Kissy" during her first TV performance with Luv' on the Flemish show "Boemerang" on BRT (broadcast on September 27th, 1980).
Charted in 3 countries: the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany
No certifications
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #9 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #4 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #15 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #23 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
🇩🇪 #75 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control Chart (Germany)
#8: My Number One (released by CNR/Carrere Records in October 1980)
Luv's first single with Ria Thielsch. This track includes military march-style elements and is considered Luv's best composition, according to Hans van Hemert, the trio's producer. It was Luv's final Top 5 hit in the Low Countries. This single was a minor hit in Germany (due to a lack of promotion after Marga Scheide's burn-out in December 1980).
Charted in 3 countries: Netherlands, Belgium and Germany
No certifications
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #5 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #4 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #5 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #7 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
🇩🇪 #60 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control Chart (Germany)
#7: Ann-Maria (released by CNR/Carrere Records in February 1980)
The ballad "Ann-Maria" was chosen as a follow-up single to the successful "Ooh, Yes I Do" and used a Latin American orchestration inspired by ABBA's "Chiquitita" and "Fernando" as well as Boney M.'s "El Lute". A children's choir was integrated into this song (like ABBA's classic hit "I Have a Dream"). A Spanish version of "Ann-Maria" came out in Mexico.
Charted in 3 countries: Netherlands, Belgium and Germany
No certification
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #11 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #4 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #10 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #14 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
🇩🇪 #37 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control Chart (Germany)
Luv's breakthrough hit in the Low Countries and the theme song for a popular TV series, "Het is weer zo laat! "(aka "Waldolala") broadcast in early 1978 on VPRO. Luv' performed this track inspired by Raffaella Carra's 1977 hit "A far l'amore comincia tu" during the opening credits of the series. Luv' became Holland's sweethearts and sex symbols with "U.O.Me".
Charted in 2 countries: Netherlands and Belgium
No certifications
Sold 150.000 copies in the Netherlands and Belgium
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #3 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #3 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #2 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #3 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
#5: Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (released by Philips/Phonogram Records in August 1979)
After the success of "Casanova" on the Continental European charts, "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" was released as the follow-up single. The track's title and chorus lyrics deal with a famous children's counting rhyme in English-speaking countries (Eeny Meeny Miny Moe). Its Bouzouki and Balalejka-theme is highly inspired by Boney M.'s "Rasputin". When this single came out, the group was not on good terms with their record company, Philips/Phonogram, and was looking for a deal with another label.
Charted in 5 countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark
No certifications
Charts Positions:
🇳🇱 #11 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #6 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #9 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #10 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
🇩🇪 #36 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control chart (Germany)
🇨🇭 #17 on the Schweizer Hitparade (Switzerland)
🇩🇰 #8 on the BT Hitlisten (Denmark)
#4: Ooh, Yes I Do (released by CNR/Carrere Records in November 1979)
In October 1979, Luv' left Philips/Phonogram and signed a lucrative deal with CNR (a label affiliated with the French record company Carrere). Shortly afterwards, Luv's first single released by Carrere was "Ooh, Yes I Do", a track written and produced by Hans van Hemert. The song uses a melody inspired by the flute theme of ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". It became an instant hit in several European countries. A Spanish version (entitled "Si, Que Si") was recorded for the Latin American market and reached gold status in Mexico.
Charted in 7 countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Denmark, France and Mexico
Certification: Gold single (Mexico)
Sales: 200.000 copies in France
Charts positions:
🇲🇽 #1 in Mexico
🇳🇱 #5 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #4 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #5 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #7 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
🇩🇪 #27 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control chart (Germany)
🇩🇰 #2 on the BT Hitlisten (Denmark)
🇫🇷 #10 on the SNEP Singles Chart (France)
🇦🇹 #13 on the Ö3-Hitparade (Austria)
#3: Casanova (released by Phonogram/Philips Records in April 1979)
After the massive success of the million-selling hit singles "You're the Greatest Lover" and "Trojan Horse", Luv's record company had high expectations for the next record.
The group's first release in 1979 was the 7" single "Casanova". It was a foretaste of the second LP ("Lots of Luv'") that came out a few weeks later. The song's lyrics deal with an unfaithful man who couldn't help seducing women. The arrangements were inspired by Flamenco and Latin American music as well as 1970s Europop. “Casanova" became another Continental European smash hit.
Charted in 7 countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain
No certifications
Sales: 300.000 copies in Germany
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #6 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #2 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #5 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #4 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
🇩🇪 #6 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control chart (Germany)
🇨🇭 #4 on the Schweizer Hitparade (Switzerland)
🇦🇹 #2 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40 (Austria)
🇩🇰 #2 on the BT Hitlisten (Denmark)
🇪🇸 #18 on Single Top 50 ("Los Domingos de ABC - Musica Joven") (Spain)
#2: You're the Greatest Lover (released by Phonogram/Philips Records in July 1978)
Luv's international breakthrough hit and million-seller. It appears on the 1978 debut album "With Luv'" and on compilations (Luv' Gold, 25 Jaar Na Waldolala, Completely In Luv'...). This single was successful in a large part of Continental Europe and South Africa. It is often considered the trio's signature song. "You're the Greatest Lover" was part of the soundtrack of an episode of the German "Derrick" TV series and the sex comedy film "Sunnyboy und Sugarbaby".
Charted in 11 countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, France, Spain, Israel, South Africa
Certifications: Netherlands (gold single: 100.000 copies - 1978) / platinum single: 150.000 copies - 1979), Germany (gold single: 500.000 copies - 1979)
Sales: Germany: 650.000 copies; France: 67.000 copies; More than 1 million copies worldwide
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #1 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #1 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #1 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #1 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
🇩🇪 #1 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control Chart (Germany)
🇨🇭 #1 on the Schweizer Hitparade (Switzerland)
🇪🇸 #1 on the ABC Clasificacion Nacional del Disco (Spain)
🇦🇹 #2 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40 (Austria)
🇩🇰 #1 on the BT Hitlisten (Denmark)
🇫🇮 #26 on the Finnish Singles Chart
🇫🇷 #21 on the SNEP Singles Chart (France)
🇮🇱 #19 on the Reshet Gimmel's foreign singles chart (Israel)
🇿🇦 #15 on the Springbok Top 20 (South Africa)
#1: Trojan Horse (released by Phonogram/Philips Records in November 1978)
This million-seller is the follow-up single to "You're the Greatest Lover" and uses a Scottish bagpipe theme. The intro of this track is inspired by the famous "20th-Century Fox Fanfare" by Alfred Newman that accompanies the 20th Century Fox studio logo at the beginning of its productions. Thanks to this hit record, Luv' established itself as one of the most popular Dutch pop acts of the late 1970s in Europe and overseas. "Trojan Horse" was included in some editions of the debut album "With Luv'". It was used for the soundtrack of the movie "Spetters", directed by Paul Verhoeven. In 1979, Luv' played a cameo role in the German film "Cola, Candy, Chocolate" in which they performed "Trojan Horse".
Charted in 16 countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, France, Israel, South Africa, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Canada
Certifications: Netherlands (gold single: 100.000 copies - 1979 / platinum single: 200.000 copies - 1979), Belgium (gold single: 100.000 copies - 1979), Austria (gold single: 50.000 copies - 1979)
Sales: Germany: 480.000 copies, France: 85.526 copies, More than 1 million copies worldwide
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #1 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
🇳🇱 #1 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
🇧🇪 #1 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
🇧🇪 #1 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
🇩🇰 #2 on the BT Hitlisten (Denmark)
🇩🇪 #3 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control chart (Germany)
🇨🇭 #2 on the Schweizer Hitparade (Switzerland)
🇦🇹 #2 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40 (Austria)
🇳🇴 #6 on the Maitoppen - Halden (Halden Arbeiderblad) - (Norway)
🇫🇮 #16 on the Finnish Singles Chart
🇫🇷 #22 on the SNEP Singles Chart (France)
🇮🇱 #20 on the Reshet Gimmel's foreign singles chart (Israel)
🇿🇦 #17 on the Springbok Top 20 (South Africa)
🇿🇼 #14 on the Rhodesian Singles Chart (Zimbabwe)
🇦🇷 #9 on the Argentinian Singles Charts (El Centro Cultural Del Disco)
🇦🇺 #50 on the Kent Music Report (Australia)
🇳🇿 #6 on the NZ Top 40 (New Zealand)
🇨🇦 #95 on the RPM 100 Singles (Canada)
SOURCE OF RECORD CHARTS:
🇳🇱 Nationale Hitparade (currently Single Top 100 & Album Top 100) +
Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands) 🇧🇪 BRT Top 30 + Billboard Benelux (Belgium) + Ultratop (Belgium) 🇩🇪 Musikmarkt/Media Control Charts (Germany) 🇦🇹 Ö3 Austria Top 40 / Ö3-Hitparade (Austrian charts) 🇩🇰 Schweizer Hitparade (Swiss charts)🇩🇰 BT Hitlisten (Denmark) 🇳🇴 Norwegian Singles Chart (Halden Arbeiderblad) 🇫🇮 Finnish singles charts 🇫🇷 SNEP Singles Chart (France) 🇪🇸 ABC Clasificacion Nacional del Disco (Spain) 🇮🇱 Reshet Gimmel's foreign singles chart (Israel) 🇦🇷 Argentinian singles chart (El Centro Cultural Del Disco)🇦🇺 Kent Music Report (Australian charts)🇳🇿 NZ Top 40 Singles Chart (New Zealand)🇿🇦 Springbok Top 20 (South Africa) 🇿🇼 Rhodesian Singles Chart (Zimbabwe) 🇨🇦 RPM Top Singles (Canada)
SOURCE OF CERTIFICATIONS (SILVER, GOLD & PLATINUM):
🇳🇱 Netherlands: Phonogram B.V, CNR, NVPI 🇧🇪 Belgium: Sibesa (IFPI Belgium), Phonogram 🇩🇪 Germany: Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft M.B.H - BVMI 🇦🇹 Austria: Phonogram Ges. M.B.H - IFPI Austria 🇩🇰 Denmark: IFPI Denmark 🇲🇽 Mexico: Discos Musart
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