You're the Greatest Lover : 35th Anniversary

LUV's international breakthrough

On July 29th 1978, "You're the Greatest Lover", Luv's fourth single, entered the Dutch Top 40 and became the trio's signature song and their breakthrough abroad.

Background

In March 1978, Luv' reached fame and fortune in the Netherlands and Belgium with their "U.O.Me" single (see article posted on March 11th 2013). But the girls were not satisfied by the way their manager Han Meijer developed their career and wanted to dispense with his services. Meijer considered the name of the pop group as his ownership and took the three singers to court about the use of it. Finally, in early June 1978, the ladies won the legal action and were officially allowed to be named Luv'. Pim ter Linde became their new manager. He ran Interlinde Artists Management, the legendary “House of Dutch Stars” (including Bonnie St. Claire, Don Mercedes, Saskia & Serge, Ron Brandsteder, Lee Towers.... ).

Picture published in Leidsch Dagblad on May 26th, 1978 (Luv' Vs Han Meijer)

Article published in Leidsch Dagblad on June 2nd, 1978 (The group is allowed to be named "Luv")

The ladies were ready to concentrate on their main goal: to have an international career. Their songwriters Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer composed "You're the Greatest Lover" which featured Spanish guitars. In the book "Nederpop, met hart en ziel", a history of Dutch pop music written by Jan van der Plas in 2003, Van Hemert told: "The music had to be uncomplicated but not too vulgar. Preferably with a South American touch...My songs were easy but Piet made refined arrangements for them."

Reception

The Luv' singers took advantage of their attractive look and promoted the "Greatest Lover" on the major European TV shows (TopPop, Musikladen, Disco, Roxi, Top Club, Musik & Gäste...). As a result, the track was a chart-topper in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany (where it sold 650.000 copies), Switzerland, Denmark and Spain (with its Spanish version "Tu Eres Mi Mejor Amante"). It reached the Top 5 of the Europarade (a compilation of European charts). It peaked at #2 on the Austrian singles chart, #26 on the Finnish singles chart and #15 in South Africa. In France, the song was entitled "Sing me, sing me a chanson" and peaked at #19 on the SNEP chart. Moreover, it was also popular behind the Iron Curtain, especially in East Germany, Poland and Hungary. In early 1979, Phonogram/Philips Records announced that the single sold 1 million copies worldwide.

Leidsch Dagblad - September 1st, 1978 (Luv' hit the number one spot with "The Greatest Lover")

Leidsch Dagblad - September 20th, 1978 (Luv' about their success)

YouTube Videos

All You Need Is Luv' (TROS Special) - Brodcast date: November 19th 1978

André van Duin's show 

Disco (Germany) - Broadcast date: October 30th, 1978

Musikladen (Germany) - Broadcast date: September 21st, 1978

Des Magiciens (France) - Broadcast date: January 1st, 1979

Tracklisting & release

You're the Greatest Lover

7" vinyl single (45 rpm) - original release by Philips/Phonogram Records in July 1978

A side: "You're the Greatest Lover" - 2:50

B side: "Everybody's Shaking Hands On Broadway" - 3:27

Original Dutch cover

German cover

Spanish version (Tu eres mi mejor amante)

French cover

Italian cover

Japanese cover

Turkish cover

Cover versions

• In 1978, Ulla Norden covered the song in German as "Wir Sind Verrückt (Wir Beide)".
• In 1979, Jonathan King recorded a cover version of Luv's hit that peaked at #67 on the UK Singles Charts.
• Disco Light Orchestra from Germany performed an instrumental version for their LP Disco Sensation in 1979.
• James Last Orchestra performed an instrumental version on his album "New Non Stop Dancing 79".
• Teenage singer Eini covered the song (entitled Vetonaula) in Finnish in 1979".
• Irish pop group Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions had a top 10 hit with this song on the Irish Charts in 1979.
• In 1980, British group Brotherhood of Man recorded a version of the song for their Good Fortune album.
• East German sister duet, Die Molly Sisters, sang a German version entitled He, hallo, du bist ein Mann geworden.
• The Hallmond All Stars orchestra performed an instrumental version on the compilation Night Fever Hammond Hit Parade released in the UK in 1996.
• In 1999, Kristina Bach sang a Schlager version (entitled Hey, ich such' hier nicht den größten Lover).
• In 2000, a dance music cover version by Loona renamed Latino Lover was a Top 10 hit single in German speaking countries (#6 and gold single (250 000 units sold) in Germany, #9 in Austria and #6 in Switerzland).

Loona performing "Latino Lover" on  ''Hitparade im ZDF" in 2000 

• German industrial band Massiv in Mensch recorded an electro version in 2003.
• In 2005, the version of The Greatest Lover by Flemish dance group Swoop peaked at #25 on the Ultratop singles charts in Flanders.

Bibliography: 

• Nederpop met hart en ziel (History of Dutch Pop Music) by J. van der Plas, publ: Kosmos 

Z&K (2003)

• Hit-Lexikon des Rock und Pop Vol. 1 by Frank Laufenberg, publ: Verlag Ullstein 

• 50 jaar nummer-1-hits 1956-2006 by Johan van Slooten , publ: Gottmer Uitgevers Groep 

• De 500 Nummer 1-Hits uit de Top 40 (1997) by Johan van Slooten, publ: Gottmer Becht 

• Top 40 Hitdossier 1956-2005 (9e editie) by Johan van Slooten, publ: Gottmer Bech 

Source: Wikipedia, Discogs.com, Dutchcharts.nl...