Photo courtesy of © Official Luv' Fan Page (Facebook)
Photo edited by Marco Rens
Thirty years ago precisely, February 25th, 1994, saw the release of Luv's final studio album: "All You Need Is Luv'". Let's celebrate the 30th anniversary of this CD recorded by Luv's original trio.
History
In 1993, inspired by the revival of interest in ABBA and Boney M.’s music, Luv's original line-up (Patty Brard, Marga Scheide and José Hoebee) enjoyed a cheerful reunion and exposure in the Dutch media. Arcade Records released "Luv' Gold", a compilation of the group’s greatest hits, with "Megamix ‘93" as a bonus track. This anthology peaked at #9 on the Album Mega Top 100, spent eighteen weeks on this Dutch chart and sold 40.000 copies in the Low Countries. Luv’ went on a promo tour through the Netherlands, Belgium, German-speaking countries and Denmark.
Patty Brard, Marga Scheide and José Hoebee toasting the signature of their deal with Dennis Erhatdt and Niel van Hoff of Arcade for the release of the "Luv' Gold" compilation (1993)
Before Christmas 1993, terrible news occurred and overshadowed the trio's comeback: Patty Brard went bankrupt due to the bad management of her magazine "Hello" she had launched with her then 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.
De Telegraaf - December 21st, 1993
Nieuwsblad van het Noorden - March 22nd, 1994: Patty's possesions auctioned
Click here to read the article
De Telegraaf - March 31st, 1994: "De iT" club owner Manfred Langer bought Patty's gold and platinum records during the auction.
Despite Patty's misfortune, Luv' recorded new material in late 1993 and early 1994. The three singers were looking for a new sound and wanted an eclectic collection of tracks.
Experienced producers worked on this ambitious project: Piet Souer and Martin Duiser, assisted by Koen van Baal and Okkie Huijsdens, supervised the recording sessions.
Souer was familiar to the group's public as Hans van Hemert and he wrote the whole Luv' repertoire in their heyday. Duiser was an acclaimed artist as he was involved in the world-famous "Stars on 45" project as well as other successful productions (Champagne, Sandra Reemer, Spargo, Lee Towers, Vanessa, Andrea Bocelli, Gary Brooker, Joe Cocker, Alan Parsons, Simple Minds, Sting and Toto).
Souer and Duiser had already teamed up in the 1980s to produce popular acts (including Doris D. & The Pins and Anita Meyer). Keyboard player Koen van Baal had a career as an arranger and a session musician for successful singers and groups (including the German rock band Scorpions). Okkie Huijsdens collaborated with many Dutch acts (Stars on 45, Sandra Reemer, Patricia Paay, Bodine, Het Goede Doel, Normaal...).
Luv’ performed thirteen new tracks as part of "All You Need Is Luv'", an album recorded at the Bolland & Bolland studio in Blaricum, the Netherlands. The record was a perfect blend of reggae (the cover version of The Beatles’ classic hit "All You Need Is Love"), euro-dance, a popular genre back then ("Don't Stop Now", "One More Night", "I Cried You Outta My Heart", and "Let's Go To The Paradise Of Love"), contemporary R&B ( "Your Love"), pop-rock ("Bad Reputation" and "Big Time Spender"), Motown-influenced arrangements (“Shine On”) and neo-1960s bubblegum pop (“Break”). "No Johnny No Can Do" was an attempt to pay tribute to the camp and Latino style of Luv's debut. The group re-recorded excerpts from the pop classics “U.O.Me”, “You're the Greatest Lover”, “Casanova”, "Trojan Horse" and “My Number One” as part of a Medley.
Dutch independent record company Roman Disc released "All You Need Is Luv’" on February 25th, 1994. The CD was only available in Kruidvat shops, a Dutch drugstore chain.
Because of this limited distribution, the CD did not enter the album charts. Despite its 50.000 copies sold in the Netherlands, which was then the equivalent of a gold certification, the NVPI, a Dutch trade association representing the record companies, could not certify "All You Need Is Luv'". Loyal fans Marijke Ankersmit, Arnold Kroone and Martin Vink had a surprise for the trio to compensate for this lack. During a live performance of the group at the World Trade Center in Rotterdam on May 21st, 1994, they presented a self-made gold record to the ladies to commemorate the good sales of the album. Dutch iconic TopPop presenter Ad Visser, who hosted the show, was present.
Photos by Martin Vink for the Official Luv' Fan Page (Facebook):
Reissues
"All You Need Is Luv'" was reissued in 1995 and re-packaged as "One More Night" by Rondo Music Music/Pink Records.
Montage by Marco Rens
On April 2nd, 2021, more than a year after Luv’s definitive break-up, Hit It! Music reissued the album on digital platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music and Deezer).
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/39DxQ8D
Apple Music: https://apple.co/3fAmuWF
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3rFug3X
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/39C76Wa
Deezer: https://bit.ly/31Ejdh9
In a message posted in early 2023 on Facebook, Casper Janssen, who supervised the digital re-release of "All You Need Is Luv'", announced that "a reissue of Luv's final album (remastered & expanded edition) on CD and vinyl was in the pipeline". This new edition will include remixes as bonus tracks. To be continued...
Original Credits:
Tracklisting
"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 Alright" (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.
Personnel:
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
Manufactured by Midget U.K.
Pressed by Dynamic Laserdisc
Source: Luv' blog archives, Luvgirlgroup website archives, Wikipedia, Discogs.com, Delpher...