Who do you wanna be - Luv'

'Who do you wanna be' was the eighth single by Dutch girl group Luv', released in the autumn of 1979 by Philips/Phonogram Records. This song was taken from the group's debut album 'With Luv'' and released as a contract-fulfilling single just before they left the label and switched to CNR/Carrere Records. The single was only released in the Netherlands.

The girl group didn't promote the song as they focused on their new releases with Carrere, which is why it failed to reach the chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5264
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Who do you wanna be' / 'I.M.U.R.'

Dream, dream - Luv'

The second single by the Dutch girl trio Luv' was not able to reach the Dutch Top 40. I was about nine years old when I heard the track (two years after its release) and even back then I concluded that the song was too 'sad' to be a hit. The fortunes of Luv' changed when they started recording consistently happy music.

That's not to say 'Dream, dream' is a bad pop song: it's got a great melody and the lyric, while still full of platitudes, is quite interesting. Finding a copy of this single is quite hard: I think there weren't that much to begin with and these days they don't pop up very often.

My collection: 7" single no. 4579
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dream, dream' / 'Hang on'

Welcome to my party - Luv'

In a rather desperate bid to revive past successes, Luv member Marga Scheide recruited Diana van Berlo and Michelle Gold to record new tracks as Luv', starting in 1989. This was after the original line-up reunited briefly in 1988, but quickly concluded that they had enough conflicts to not want to reform.

The new trio recorded one successful single, 'Welc0me to my party'. It reached number 22 in the Dutch Top 40. In 1990, Michelle Gold was replaced by another member, Carina Lemoine. During the Gulf War, Luv' performed in Dubai to support the Dutch troops. The formation finally split up in 1992. It wasn't the best version of Luv': just listen to the lifeless Medley on the B-side, in which they perform the biggest Luv hits without the bubbly cheerfullness of the original versions.

My collection: 7" single no. 1118
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, December 1, 1989
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Welcome to my party' / 'Medley'

Eeny meeny miny moe - Luv'

'Eeny meeny miny moe' was released in the summer of 1979 as a single from Luv's second album 'Lots of Luv'. As usual, the track was produced by Hans van Hemert and written by Janschen and Janschens, the duo that had given Luv' five Dutch top 10 hits in 1978 and 1979. This was the first single to peak outside the top 10 of the Dutch Top 40: at number 11.

The French edition of this single featured the B-side 'I.M.U.R.' as the A-side and vice versa.

My collection: 7" single no. 4183
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Eeny meeny miny moe' / 'I.M.U.R.'

Tingalingaling - Luv'

On March 5, 1981, Luv' disbanded. The replacement of Patty Brard by Ria Tielsch did not bring them the amount of success they hoped for, and there are also personal reasons to quit. However, that summer the trio reforms for a one off performance in the amusement park the Efteling for an event sponsored by the music weekly Hitkrant. Press and fans are enthusiastic, and so their record company decides to release one more single from Luv's last album, 'Forever yours'.

'Tingalingaling' is released in July 1981 and reahces number 29 in the Dutch Top 40. Luv' perform the song in the popular tv programme 'Nederland Muziekland', which also is their official goodbye.

My collection: 7" single no. 4185
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Tingalingaling' / 'Billy the kid'

My number one - Luv'

After Patty Brard left Luv', it seemed like the girl group had reached the end of their tether. But this wasn't necessarily true: with a new girl, Ria Tielsch, they record their fourth studio album 'Forever yours'. The first single, released in advance of the album, is 'My number one'.

This single is their last top 10 hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 4184
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'My number one' / 'The show must go on'

Hitpack - Luv'

Although Luv' had their biggest successes in the late Seventies and early Eighties, someone thought it would be a good idea to release a Megamix of their biggest hits in 1989. The 'Hitpack', as it was called, was mixed by Peter Slaghuis, a moderately wellknown Dutch DJ around that time, and he put together the Luv' singles 'Casanova', 'U.O. me', 'You're the greatest lover' and 'Trojan horse'. The nonsensical B-side finished the job.

Obviously, the single did not chart. Luv' were a thing of the past, and megamixes are rarely a commercial success anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 4186
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hitpack' / 'Luv' stuff'

One more little kissy - Luv'

In 1980, just like previous years, Luv's career is going well. They are successful in various countries around the world, such as Mexico where a Spanish version of 'Ooh, yes I di' ('Si que si') reaches the top of the charts. In the Netherlands, meanwhile, the single 'One more little kissy' is released, reaching number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

It is to be their last single release with band member Patty Brard, who announces in the autumn of 1980 that she is leaving Luv'. She also demands half a million guilders from the Luv' company, a sum which she is awarded after a court case. It is not the end of Luv', however: in September 1980 Ria Thielsch takes Brard's place.

My collection: 7" single no. 54
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'One more little kissy' / 'I win it'

My man - Luv'

Luv's debut single 'My man' was released in 1977. It was a far cry from the unpretentious, happy, bubbly pop songs that would become their trademark sound. Instead, this track was a tearjerker of sorts, about a woman whose man, a railroad worker, has been murdered when he tries to stop a fight between two men. The song shocked the Netherlands, because it was released at a time when a train was hijacked.

The single reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 10 in Belgium. It was the official start of a career that would take off for real with 'U.O. me' the next year.

My collection: 7" single no. 4087
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received September 25, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'My man' / 'Don't let me down'

Ann-Maria - Luv'

Luv' released their seventh consecutive hit single in February 1980. The girl trio were doing great business, performing live wherever they could and appearing in almost every TV programme in the Netherlands.

This single was a Mexican-flavoured popsong, using all the cliches of mariachi bands and the like. The single peaked at number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 and also appeared in several European charts. On the sleeve, the girls looked rather posh.

My collection: 7" single no. 33
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Ann-Maria' / 'Flash'

Trojan horse - Luv'

Released in the autumn of 1978, 'Trojan horse' was the fifth single by Luv'. Heavy on bagpipes, this third hit single for the group reached number 1 in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Poland. Thanks to this success, Luv' established itself as one of the most popular Dutch pop acts of the late Seventies.

The song was used in the soundtrack of the Dutch movie 'Spetters', directed by Paul Verhoeven. When Luv' played a cameo role in the 1979 German movie 'Cola, Candy, Chocolate' they performed this song.

My collection: 7" single no. 32
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1979
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Trojan horse' / 'Life is on my side'

Ooh, yes I do - Luv'

The girl trio Luv' was churning out hit after hit in 1979, at the height of their popularity. Not everything they did was highly inspired, but at least every single song they recorded was a happy, positive track.

'Ooh, yes I do' was released in October 1979 and reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 38
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Ooh yes I do' / 'My guy'

You're the greatest lover - Luv'

'You're the greatest lover' is Luv's signature song. Originally released in July 1978, it reached number 1 a month later. The trio was at the height of their popularity in the second half of 1978, when also their next single 'Trojan horse' became a number 1 hit.

So is it alright to buy singles by Luv' when you're a grown man? I guess not. I've got the perfect excuse, though: I've got nearly all their singles because I bought them as a kid. Now all I want to do is complete the set, like I'm doing with a lot of other artists. Just label this as a guilty pleasure...

My collection: 7" single no. 3823
Found: La La Land, July 2, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'You're the greatest lover' / 'Everybody's shakin' hands on Broadway'

Casanova - Luv'

'Casanova' was Luv's fifth hit single, released in April 1979. First awarded the 'Alarmschijf', Radio Veronica's weekly tip for the chart, the single quickly moved up to sixth place in the Dutch Top 40. Nothing else is very spectacular about the song: it sounds a lot like the trio's earlier material.

I bought the single back when I was just an eight year old. I was a fan of Boney M, Abba and Luv', and having learned the importance of a record collection at a very early age from my older brother and sister, I bought anything they released. The least you can say about Luv' nowadays is that their records had great sleeves back then.

My collection: 7" single no. 20
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Casanova' / 'DJ'

I.M.U.R. - Luv'

This single is a present which I got from my parents when we were on holiday in Paris. Being only eight years old, my musical taste was still forming, but I did already have an ear for pretty melodies. Luv' had just hit the Dutch charts with 'Eeny meeny miny moe' (where it would reach number 11), a pretty but vacuous popsong, and I was very surprised to find that the French had put that song on the B-side in favour of 'I.M.U.R.'.

I knew that song too, and thought it was pretty modern-sounding. Indeed, in the Eighties this sound would become very popular. Girl group pop never sounded so nice.

My collection: 7" single no. 24

Found: Paris, 1979

Cost: nothing (it was a present)

Tracks: 'I.M.U.R.' / 'Eeny meeny miny moe'

U.O. Me - Luv'

Reportedly inspired by Raffaella Carra's 'A far l'amore comincia tu', 'U.O. me' was the third single release by the Dutch girl group Luv', released in early 1978. The single reversed their fortunes in a dramatic way: second single 'Dream dream' did not chart, after debut single 'My man' had been a top 20 hit in the Netherlands. 'U.O. me' peaked at number 3 in the Netherlands, but also provided them with an international breakthrough hit.

German Schlager singer Peter Petrel recorded a German cover version entitled 'Wer hat hier denn wohl wen verführt' later on in 1978.

My collection: 7" single no. 3688

Found: Empire Records, May 5, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'U.O. me' / 'Hang on'