Luv' in the Land of Fjords

Photo edited by Co Rnz

Benelux and German-speaking countries were very important for Luv' during their heyday (1978-1981). Their records were also distributed in other territories. In recent years, I have realized that the girls had also hits in Finland, Denmark, France, Spain, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Recently, I've been in touch with Norwegian historian Geir Åsen. Thanks to him, I have found out that Luv' were also present in Norway's media. I have used the website of the Nasjonalbiblioteket (National Library of Norway) for my research. 

Norway: a tiny and foreign-friendly market

Norway is a small music market. In 1979, this Scandinavian country had 4 million inhabitants. 

Since 1958, VG-lista has been the official Norwegian record chart presented weekly in the newspaper VG. In 1979, it was only a Top 10 chart based on the sales in 50 record shops in Norway. So it was difficult to find information about records that didn't reach the VG-lista.

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), 1.400.000 singles were sold in 1985. In the 1970s and 1980s, a single that reached the VG-lista sold approximately 500 copies a week. 

Despite its smallness, the Norwegian music market was already foreign-friendly. At the time, international acts like ABBA, Boney M., Baccara, Village People or Bee Gees were very successful there. 

To this day, I could not find any trace of  Luv' records on the VG-lista. Does it mean that the trio was ignored in the Land of Fjords? Actually not, even if the girls never came to Norway to perform on stage and television.

Luv's presence in Norwegian media

Trojan Horse in the hit parades

On March 26th, 1979, Trojan Horse reached #15 on the Hortens-Toppen, a hit parade published in the Gjengangeren newspaper.

Click on the link to read the article online: Gjengangeren (nb.no)

The June 2nd, 1979 edition of Halden Arbeiderblad published a hit parade of May including Trojan Horse peaking at #6.

Click on the link to read the article online: Halden Arbeiderblad (nb.no)

With Luv': review

On May 21st, 1979, the Fremover newspaper featured a review of the group's debut album "With Luv'" (which was initially released in August 1978 in the Netherlands). This edition of Luv's LP included Trojan Horse that replaced Don Juanito De Carnaval. 

Click on the link to read the article online: Fremover (nb.no)

On November 28th, 1979, Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad published a short article about Luv'.

Click on the link to read the article online: Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad (nb.no)

All You Need Is Luv' on NRK

During Luv's successful years, Norway only had one TV channel: NRK. It meant that pop bands that appeared on this TV network could take advantage of a huge exposure on the small screen. 

On June 6th, 1980, the All You Need Is Luv' TV special was broadcast on NRK. On November 19th, 1978, Dutch TROS channel initially aired this program filmed in Holland (see article posted on November 19th, 2018). The trio performed songs from the "With Luv'" album on this show: You're the Greatest Lover, Who Do You Wanna Be, Trojan Horse, Louis Je T'Adore, U.O.Me and Oh, Get Ready.

Screenshots from All You Need Is Luv':

Dozens of articles announcing this special were published in the Norwegian press. Luv' were described as "singers who were well on their way to achieving the international reputation of Baccara and Boney M.".  To prove their popularity on the European marketplace, Norwegian papers mentioned their numerous TV appearances in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Spain. 

Lofotposten, May 29th, 1980

Click on the link to read the article online: Lofotposten (nb.no)

Sogningen-Sogns Avis, May 29th, 1980

Click on the link to read the article online: Sogningen-Sogns Avis (nb.no)

Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad, May 30th, 1980 

Click on the link to read the article online: Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad (nb.no)

Aura Avis - May 31st, 1980

Click on the link to read the article online: Aura Avis (nb.no)

Finmarkposten - June 5th, 1980: 

Click on the link to read the article online: inmarksposten (nb.no)

Ringerikes Blad - June 6th 1980

Click on the link to read the article online: Ringerikes Blad (nb.no)

Helgeland Arbeiderblad: June 6th, 1980

Click on the link to read the article online: Helgeland Arbeiderblad (nb.no)

Halden Arbeiderblad June 6th, 1980

Click on the link to read the article online: Halden Arbeiderblad (nb.no)

Østlands-Posten, June 6th,1980

Click on the link to read the article online: Østlands-Posten (nb.no)

Moss Daglad June 6th, 1980

Click on the link to read the article online: Moss Dagblad (nb.no)

Haugesunds Avis,June 6th, 1980: 

Click on the link to read the article online: Haugesunds Avis (nb.no)

Rana Blad, June 6th, 1980 

Click on the link to read the article online: Rana Blad (nb.no)

Tidens Krav, June 6th, 1980 

Click on the link to read the article online: Tidens Krav (nb.no)

Fredriksstad Blad, June 6th, 1980 

Click on the link to read the article online: Fredriksstad Blad (nb.no)

Finnmarken, June 6th, 1980

Click on the link to read the article online: Finnmarken (nb.no)

Bergens Arbeiderblad, June 6th, 1980 

Click on the link to read the article online: Bergens Arbeiderblad (nb.no)

Tromsø, June 6th, 1980 

Click on the link to read the article online: Tromsø (nb.no)

Glåmdalen, June 6th, 1980 

Click on the link to read the article online: Glåmdalen (nb.no)

Nordlys, June 6th, 1980 

Click on the link to read the article online: Nordlys (nb.no)

Forever Yours: review

In early 1981, as the Luv' trio was in danger due to Marga Scheide's burnout and about to break up,  reviews about the group's fourth album "Forever Yours" were written in the Norwegian press. ABBA's music was cited as one of their influences on their sound. 

Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad, Februar 20th, 1981

Click on the link to read the article online: Drammens Tidende og Buskeruds Blad (nb.no)

Nordlandsposten, Feruary 21st, 1981

Click on the link to read the article online:  Nordlandsposten (nb.no)

Bergens Arbeiderblad, March 2nd, 1981

Click on the link to read the article online:  Bergens Arbeiderblad (nb.no)

Norwegian discography

Nordisk Copyright Bureau (n©b), a copyright collecting society, was in charge of the copyright on Luv' records in Scandinavia (including Norway). 

The databases on Discogs.com and 45cat.com mention some of Luv's Norwegian releases:

You're the Greatest Lover (1978)

 

With Luv' (1979 edition including Trojan Horse - similar to the Australian release)

Casanova (1979)

Lots of Luv' (cassette - 1979)

Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (1979)

Greatest Hits (1979)

 Source: Geir Åsen, Nasjonalbiblioteket, Discogs.com, 45cat