Ralph Ruiz
Top 10 Luv' songs
Derniรจre mise ร jour : 6 aoรปt 2022

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:
๐ณ๐ฑ #12 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #12 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #10 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #11 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #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:
๐ณ๐ฑ #9 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #4 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #15 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #23 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
๐ฉ๐ช #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:
๐ณ๐ฑ #5 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #4 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #5 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #7 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
๐ฉ๐ช #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:
๐ณ๐ฑ #11 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #4 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #10 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #14 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
๐ฉ๐ช #37 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control Chart (Germany)
#6: U.O.Me (released by Phonogram/Philips Records in February 1978)
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:
๐ณ๐ฑ #3 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #3 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #2 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #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:
๐ณ๐ฑ #11 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #6 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #9 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #10 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
๐ฉ๐ช #36 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control chart (Germany)
๐จ๐ญ #17 on the Schweizer Hitparade (Switzerland)
๐ฉ๐ฐ #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:
๐ฒ๐ฝ #1 in Mexico
๐ณ๐ฑ #5 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #4 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #5 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #7 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
๐ฉ๐ช #27 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control chart (Germany)
๐ฉ๐ฐ #2 on the BT Hitlisten (Denmark)
๐ซ๐ท #10 on the SNEP Singles Chart (France)
๐ฆ๐น #13 on the ร3-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. โCasanova" 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:
๐ณ๐ฑ #6 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #2 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #5 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #4 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
๐ฉ๐ช #6 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control chart (Germany)
๐จ๐ญ #4 on the Schweizer Hitparade (Switzerland)
๐ฆ๐น #2 on the ร3 Austria Top 40 (Austria)
๐ฉ๐ฐ #2 on the BT Hitlisten (Denmark)
๐ช๐ธ #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:
๐ณ๐ฑ #1 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #1 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #1 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #1 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
๐ฉ๐ช #1 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control Chart (Germany)
๐จ๐ญ #1 on the Schweizer Hitparade (Switzerland)
๐ช๐ธ #1 on the ABC Clasificacion Nacional del Disco (Spain)
๐ฆ๐น #2 on the ร3 Austria Top 40 (Austria)
๐ฉ๐ฐ #1 on the BT Hitlisten (Denmark)
๐ซ๐ฎ #26 on the Finnish Singles Chart
๐ซ๐ท #21 on the SNEP Singles Chart (France)
๐ฎ๐ฑ #19 on the Reshet Gimmel's foreign singles chart (Israel)
๐ฟ๐ฆ #15 on the Springbok Top 20 (South Africa)
โโ
โโ#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:โ
๐ณ๐ฑ #1 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
๐ณ๐ฑ #1 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands)
๐ง๐ช #1 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
๐ง๐ช #1 on the Ultratop Flanders (Belgium)
๐ฉ๐ฐ #2 on the BT Hitlisten (Denmark)
๐ฉ๐ช #3 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control chart (Germany)
๐จ๐ญ #2 on the Schweizer Hitparade (Switzerland)
๐ฆ๐น #2 on the ร3 Austria Top 40 (Austria)
๐ณ๐ด #6 on the Maitoppen - Halden (Halden Arbeiderblad) - (Norway)
๐ซ๐ฎ #16 on the Finnish Singles Chart
๐ซ๐ท #22 on the SNEP Singles Chart (France)
๐ฎ๐ฑ #20 on the Reshet Gimmel's foreign singles chart (Israel)
๐ฟ๐ฆ #17 on the Springbok Top 20 (South Africa)
๐ฟ๐ผ #14 on the Rhodesian Singles Chart (Zimbabwe)
๐ฆ๐ท #9 on the Argentinian Singles Charts (El Centro Cultural Del Disco)
๐ฆ๐บ #50 on the Kent Music Report (Australia)
๐ณ๐ฟ #6 on the NZ Top 40 (New Zealand)
๐จ๐ฆ #95 on the RPM 100 Singles (Canada)
SOURCE OF RECORD CHARTS:
๐ณ๐ฑ Nationale Hitparade (currently Single Top 100 & Album Top 100) +
Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands) ๐ง๐ช BRT Top 30 + Billboard Benelux (Belgium) + Ultratop (Belgium) ๐ฉ๐ช Musikmarkt/Media Control Charts (Germany) ๐ฆ๐น ร3 Austria Top 40 / ร3-Hitparade (Austrian charts) ๐ฉ๐ฐ Schweizer Hitparade (Swiss charts)๐ฉ๐ฐ BT Hitlisten (Denmark) ๐ณ๐ด Norwegian Singles Chart (Halden Arbeiderblad) ๐ซ๐ฎ Finnish singles charts ๐ซ๐ท SNEP Singles Chart (France) ๐ช๐ธ ABC Clasificacion Nacional del Disco (Spain) ๐ฎ๐ฑ Reshet Gimmel's foreign singles chart (Israel) ๐ฆ๐ท Argentinian singles chart (El Centro Cultural Del Disco)๐ฆ๐บ Kent Music Report (Australian charts)๐ณ๐ฟ NZ Top 40 Singles Chart (New Zealand)๐ฟ๐ฆ Springbok Top 20 (South Africa) ๐ฟ๐ผ Rhodesian Singles Chart (Zimbabwe) ๐จ๐ฆ RPM Top Singles (Canada)
SOURCE OF CERTIFICATIONS (SILVER, GOLD & PLATINUM):
๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands: Phonogram B.V, CNR, NVPI ๐ง๐ช Belgium: Sibesa (IFPI Belgium), Phonogram ๐ฉ๐ช Germany: Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft M.B.H - BVMI ๐ฆ๐น Austria: Phonogram Ges. M.B.H - IFPI Austria ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark: IFPI Denmark ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico: Discos Musart