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Flashback: Trojan Horse on the New Zealand Single Top
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article posted on December 6th 2009
Luv' used to be very popular in the Netherlands and
abroad in the late 1970's. It's a fact. The girls even received a Conamus Prize
for being the best Dutch export music act thirty years ago. I found on internet evidence of their brief heyday in the neighbouring
European countries (especially Belgium, the German speaking territories and Denmark). I even found peak positions of
a couple of their hits on the South African charts (See the charts page). The group also scored three moderate singles in my homeland, France.
When I first read in some bios that the girls topped the charts in New Zealand, I didn't believe it
at all. I thought it was to exaggerate Luv's international prestige. I was convinced
that South Africa was the only English speaking country where the ladies had really reached fame. But I've recently discovered
a proof that Trojan Horse peaked at #6 in the "nation
of the All Blacks" in 1979. Click here to see it (source: New Zealand Charts archives: http://charts.org.nz). It's the only chart entry in the "Land of the Māori" that I could find. So I suppose that Luv' was a "one-hit wonder" there. Better than nothing.
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30th Anniversary of Ooh, Yes I Do
Luv's great career move: transfer to CNR/Carrere Records
article posted on November 10th 2009
After a succession of hit songs, Luv's ninth single entitled
"Ooh, Yes I Do" entered the Dutch Top 40 on November
10th 1979 and later became a smash hit in Benelux, Denmark and Germany and to a lesser extent in France. Luv'
received in Mexico a gold record for the Spanish version of this single ("Si, Que Si").
Song history
In July 1979, Luv's producer Hans van Hemert decided to leave
Philips/Phonogram Records (the company which had released the
group's records for two years). Van Hemert was not satisfied by the way the label
promote the girls abroad (see articles archives: Summer of '79: Clouds on the horizon - posted on July 31st 2009) though they had big
export hits (such as "You're the Greatest Lover", "Trojan Horse" and "Casanova"). In
the meantime, Luv', Van Hemert and
his partner (Piet Souer) as well as their manager Pim
ter Linde formed a limited company (InterLUV) to control every aspect of their career.
On October 7th 1979, the ladies and their team signed a 750.000 Dutch Guilder deal with CNR affiliated to Carrere Records (click here to read the article of De Telegraaf published on 10.8.1979). This
contract was considered as "the show business transfer of the year" in Holland.
The formation's first single released by Carrere was Ooh, Yes
I Do, a track composed and produced by Van Hemert. The song uses
a melody highly inspired by the flute theme of ABBA's Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight). It became an instant hit
in some European countries. Luv' recorded a Spanish version of
the single (Si, Que Si) for the Latin American market and conquered a new territory: Mexico.
Ooh, Yes I Do is often included in the setlist of Luv' live shows. Two months ago, Patty Brard dedicated
it to her fiancé Antoine van de Vijver to ask him if he would like to marry her
(see news posted on September 8th 2009).
Chart performance & certification
Ooh, Yes I Do was a Top 5 hit
in Denmark and the Netherlands, a Top 10 record in Flanders (Belgium), a Top 30 song
in Germany and a moderate chart entry in France. It went gold in Mexico. See the "Charts" page to know the single's peak position on the hitlists.
Label, distribution deal and publishing
Ooh, Yes I Do belongs to the back catalogue
of Hans van Hemert Productions B.V (click here). Like any other Luv' record, it was released in various editions -
all depending on which countries the release took place. CNR/Carrere records licensed the rights for the record to various labels around the world. That's how, Ooh, Yes I Do was distributed by RCA in Italy, Discos Musart in Mexico
and Moonshine in Africa.
Moreover, as Luv' moved to Carrere,
the girl group also changed its publishing company (which controlled the copyright of their songs). Their first
publisher was Banananas Music during their Phonogram years (1977-1979) and their second
one was Roba Musik Verlag during their CNR/Carrere periode (1979-1981).
To watch Luv' perform Ooh, Yes I Do click
here, here, here, here and here.
Source of this article:
* Wikipedia page about this hit record: click here
Bibliography:
* Top
40 Hitdossier 1956-2005 (9e editie) by Johan van Slooten, publ: Gottmer Bech
Below, different versions of "Ooh, Yes I Do" :
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| German edition released by Carrere Records |
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| Italian version released by RCA Records |
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| Spanish pressing |
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| Carrere France released an alternate version with "My Guy" as A-side |
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| Mexican version released by Discos Musart |
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| African version released by Moonshine Records |
20th Anniversary of "Welcome to My Party"
Article posted on October 21st 2009
Luv's single entitled "Welcome
to my Party " (released by High Fashion/Dureco Records)
entered the Dutch Top 40 on October 21st 1989 and later became a Top 30 hit in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium). This
song didn't involve Patty Brard and José Hoebee.
It was actually performed by another trio featuring Marga Scheide (the only
original Luv' singer) and two new members: Diana van
Berlo and Michelle Gold.
* Song History
In late October 1988, José, Marga
and Patty reunited seven years after their break-up for a TV charity show (Samen) hosted by Mies Bouwman. They sang their signature
song "You're the Greatest Lover". This performance took the public and
the media by surprise as the ladies hadn't been on speaking terms for years. Because of enthusiastic reactions, Luv' planned to record new material. British hitmachine "Stock,
Aitken & Waterman" (who produced successful chart toppers for Kylie
Minogue, Rick Astley, Jason Donovan,
Mel & Kim, Bananarama, Donna Summer and even Luv's rivals "The Dolly Dots") were said to produce the trio's comeback opus. Unfortunately,
this project never happened. In May 1989, José didn't want to belong to the group
because of family duties. Soon after, Patty did the same as she wanted to focus
on her TV career. Marga carried on as she held the copyright on the
group's name and logo. She launched a new version of Luv' without
the consent of Hans van Hemert (who conceived the female pop act). Two other girls were recruited: 23-year-old Diana van Berlo and 28-year-old
Michelle Gold. Diana was an experienced
vocalist as she had already performed under the stage name Sharon Vice. Michelle had an impressive career
in the music business before joining Luv'. She had been a background singer of
James Ingram, Grover Washington jr, Nik Kershaw, Helen Terry (of Culture Club), Princess. Evelyn "Champagne" King and Run DMC.
With the help from Marga's
partner at the time Jacques Zwart (a.k.a E. Mergency),
a new repertoire (highly inspired by the Dance pop and catchy sound of Stock, Aitken &
Waterman and their PWL label) was chosen. English producer Nigel Wright was hired to supervise the recording session. This former member of Shakatak was a veteran of the music scene thanks to the hit records he produced for Mirage, Imagination and numerous bands.
Under Wright's
guidance, Luv' recorded the EP "For You".
The first single taken from this mini album was "Welcome to My Party". Though
it didn't achieve the success of Luv's hits from their heyday in the late 1970's,
the girls often performed on TV and toured the club circuit.
* Chart performance
Welcome to My Party
peaked at #22 on the Dutch Top 40 and #19 on the Nationale Hitparade
in the Netherlands. It reached the 28th position on the BRT Top 30 in Flanders (Belgium).
To watch Luv' perform Welcome to
my party: click here and here
* Press:
- article from Veronica TV Guide published on September 23rd 2009 about Luv's
comeback: click here to read it
- article of newspaper "Gooi-en Eemlander" about New Luv's
first live performance in September 1989: click here
* Bibliography:
Top 40 Hitdossier 1956-2005 (9e editie)
by Johan van Slooten, publ: Gottmer Bech
* Source:
Wikipedia's page: click here
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