Photo courtesy of © Official Luv' Fan Page
Forty-five years ago precisely, on August 21st, 1978, Luv's first album, entitled "With Luv'", was released. It later became a big-selling record in the Netherlands and the neighbouring countries. This release was a milestone in the ladies' career, achieving cult status among the fans. With Luv' includes the hit singles "My Man" (the trio's first record), "U.O.Me" (Luv's breakthrough in the Low Countries) and the million-seller "You're the Greatest Lover" (a #1 song in some European countries). Some pressings of this LP feature "Trojan Horse", another successful European chart-topper.
History
1978 was a special year for the girls. "U.O.Me" was their breakthrough in their homeland. The follow-up single "You're the Greatest Lover" was a bigger success: this million-seller hit the number-one spot in some European territories and even charted in South Africa.
The next step for Luv' was to put out a full-length album entitled "With Luv'". The production of this opus was supervised by Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, who wrote all the songs under the pseudonym "Janschen & Janschens", except "Don Juanito de Carnaval" (the cover version of Raffaella Carrà's 1977 classic hit "A far l'amore comincia tu",). "With Luv'" was a perfect blend of ABBAesque sounds ("My Man", "Dream Dream"), Latin American and Spanish orchestrations ("U.O.Me", "You're the Greatest Lover", "Don Juanito de Carnaval"), Disco ("Everybody's Shaking Hands On Broadway", "Life Is On My Side"), Pop music ("Who Do You Wanna Be", "Hang On") and Soft Rock ("Get Ready").
The album release party took place at the Hilversum Airport on August 21st, 1978. This event was combined with the presentation of gold records for Conquistador (a group from Hans van Hemert's artist roster). It generated publicity in the media.
Luv' presenting their "With Luv'" album and Conquistador (who received gold records for their "Argentina" album and single) with their producers Piet Souer and Hans van Hemert at the Hilversum Aiport on August 21st, 1978
In his biography "The Story in Luv'" published in 2015, Peter Boonstra revealed a strange behind-the-scene story during With Luv's release party. The Luv' singers were supposed to wear Indian fringed chamois leather dresses on this occasion. Before going to the party, their record company, Phonogram, informed them that the cost of these expensive outfits would be deducted from their wages. Patty, Marga and José didn't accept the label's decision and threatened not to attend the event in their honour. Finally, Phonogram paid for their new costumes and the incident was rapidly forgotten.
Article in Muziek & Beeld Info - August 1978
Leeuwarder courant - August 22nd, 1978
Click here to read the article online
Limburgs Dagblad - August 23rd, 1978
Click here to read the article online
De Telegraaf - August 23rd, 1978
Click here to read the article
Nieuwsblad van het Noorden - August 23rd, 1978
Click here to read the article online
Het Parool - August 25th, 1978
Click here to read the article online
Ad published in the press to promote "With Luv'"
Photography
One important aspect of the record was its iconic front and back covers. The renowned photographer Claude Vanheye supervised the photo session with the three sexy singers posing at the Grand Canaria airport. This artist had already photographed the "crème de la crème" of the 1960s and 1970s: Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Iggy Pop...
Photos by Claude Vanheye - courtesy of Marco Rens (Official Luv' Fan Page on Facebook):
Release and distribution
With Luv' came out in various editions, depending on which countries the release took place. Philips/Phonogram licensed the record's rights to multiple labels worldwide (Carrere Records in Germany, PGB RTB in Yugoslavia, Mercury Records in Canada...).
Some album pressings included "Trojan Horse" instead of "Don Juanito de Carnaval".
To know details about the release of "With Luv" worldwide: click here.
Back cover (original Dutch version)
German edition
French edition
Canadian edition
Spanish edition (including "Tu eres mi mejor amante" - Spanish version of "The Greatest Lover")
Australian edition
South Korean pressing (front cover)
South Korean pressing (back cover)
Zimbabwean pressing
Colombian edition (back cover)
Reissues
Philips Records reissued the LP in 1980 after the trio left the label and was under contract with CNR/Carrere Records. This pressing was part of the "Succes" series, a reissue of popular albums from the Philips back catalogue.
1980 reissue (Succes series)
With Luv' was digitally remastered and reissued in 2006 as part of the "Completely In Luv'" box set with the same track listing and three bonus tracks:
"Don't Let Me Down" (Janschen & Janschens) – 2:37 - B side of "My Man"
"Eres Mi Mejor Amante" (Alfred Garrido, Janschen & Janschens) – 2:50 Spanish version of "You're the Greatest Lover".
"All You Need Is Luv' Jingle" (Janschen & Janschens) – 0:12
On October 21st, 2014, With Luv' became available on major digital platforms (including YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify & Deezer).
Tracklisting
A Side:
"You're the Greatest Lover" (Janschen & Janschens) - 2:50
"Who Do You Wanna Be" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:44
"My Man" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:05
"Sugar Babe" (Janschen & Janschens) - 2:49
"Don Juanito De Carnaval" (Daniële Pace, Franco Bracardi, Gianni Boncompagni, Janschen & Janschens) - 3:09
"Life Is On My Side" (Janschen & Janschens) - 2:38
B Side:
"U.O.Me (Welcome To Waldolala)" (Janschen & Janschens) - 2:55
"Dream, Dream" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:30
"Oh, Get Ready" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:16
"Louis, Je t'Adore" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:40
"Everybody's Shaking Hands On Braodway" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:27
"Hang On" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:07
Note: "Don Juanito de Carnaval" was replaced by "Trojan Horse" on some pressings.
Album credits
Luv':
José Hoebee - vocals
Marga Scheide - vocals
Patty Brard - vocals
Additional personnel:
Ernö Olah & Metropole Orkest - strings
Producer: Hans van Hemert
Arranger/conductor: Piet Souer
Photography: Claude Vanheye
Design: Jan H. van Uden
Art Direction: Clouds Studio
Clothing: Tarzan's - Amsterdam
Management: Interlinde Management
Commercial response and chart performance
As a manufactured pop formation which targeted youngsters, Luv' was more successful on the singles charts than on the albums charts. Indeed, 7" singles were popular among teenagers in the 1970s. With Luv' entered the Dutch charts on September 2nd, 1978. It later reached the Top 10 in the Netherlands and Denmark, the Top 20 in Austria and Switzerland and the Top 50 in Germany. The album eventually turned gold and platinum in Holland (100.000 certified copies) and silver in Denmark (25.000 certified copies).
Charts positions:
🇳🇱 #6 on the LP Top 50 (Netherlands)
Debut date: September 2nd, 1978 - Weeks on chart: 25
🇳🇱 #8 on the Nationale Hitparade LP Top 50 (Netherlands)
Debut date: September 9th, 1978 - Weeks on chart: 24
🇨🇭 #11 on Der Musikmarkt: Schweizer Hitparade - Top 25 (Switzerland)
Debut date: December 15th, 1978 - Weeks on chart: 16
🇩🇪 #50 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control Chart - Top 50 (Germany)
Debut date: February 9th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 1
🇦🇹 #15 on the Alben Top 25 (Austria)
Debut date: April 15th, 1979 - Months on chart: 1
🇩🇰 #9 on the BT Hitlisten/IFPI - Top 10 (Denmark)
Certifications:
🇳🇱 Netherlands:
Gold album - 50.000 certified copies - 1978
Platinum album - 100.000 certified copies - 1979
🇩🇰 Denmark:
Silver album - 25.000 certified copies - 1979
Clipping from November 1978: With Luv' reached gold status in Holland due to its 50.000 certified copies
Gold record for With Luv' in the Netherlands (50.000 copies - November 1978)
Platinum certification for With Luv' in the Netherlands - 100.000 copies (1979)
Article from Billboard Magazine (August 25th, 1979
Article from Generation, Danish magazine (1979 - With Luv' silver certification)
Bibliography:
Albumdossier 1969-2002 by Johan van Slooten, publisher: Becht's Uitgevers
The Story of Luv' by Peter Boonstra
Source: Marco Rens, Wikipedia, Discogs.com, Dutchcharts.nl, Austriancharts.nl, Charts.de, Delpher.nl...