* On August 28th, Marga Scheide gave a phone interview on ZuidWest FM's morning show "ZuidWest in de morgen" hosted by Marco Aarden. The blonde Luv' singer discussed the glorious past of the group and the old repertoire still appreciated by young and old. She also talked about Luv's new reggaeton single "With Him Tonight" and how this project was developed in Miami. She added that she still enjoyed performing with Luv'.
Click here to listen to the interview with Marga at 45:00.
* Yesterday, on August 30th, Chimène van Oosterhout was the guest on Radio M Utrecht's program "Aan Tafel" (hosted by Conny Kraaijeveld). The charismatic brunette will take part tomorrow in a charity sport event called "Swim To Fight Cancer" in Stichtse Vecht, Netherlands. She promoted this good cause during the radio show.
On August 28th, Patty Brard was interviewed by Maarten Steendam on De Telegraaf's web channel to discuss several subjects. She appeared relaxed during this conversation.
First, the diva talked about her weight (she lost practically 40 kilos after her gastric bypass). She explained that she tried to maintain it and that she was in good shape.
She also told that she liked to be part of SBS 6. Earlier this week, she posted a message on social media to express her satisfaction about the latest TV ratings of the channel which were good (in particular Chateau Meiland, Lingo and Man Bijt Hond).
The former Luv' singer promoted her latest TV program "Zo goed als nieuw" which would premiere on SBS 6 on September 4th at 9:30 PM. Moreover, Patty revealed that Gordon and she would start to work on a new TV show in October. Dutch media later added that it would be a travel program.
Patty praised Martien Meiland (the star of SBS 6's reality show "Chateau Meiland") and revealed that he would appear in one episode of "Zo goed als nieuw".
La Brard advertised her theater tour which would start next year in March to celebrate her 65th birthday. In addition to this tour, she told that a biography (written by Michel van Egmond and Antoinnette Scheulderman) would be published.
Patty finally reacted to a recent interview Marga Scheide and Chimène van Oosterhout gave on Telegraaf TV (see news posted on July 9th, 2019). She ironically said that "Marga was the boss of Luv' because she trademarked the name of the group" and added that "Chimène is the nice side of Luv'".
Click here to watch the interview. Source: De Telegraaf
The first episode of Patty Brard's new TV program "Zo goed als nieuw" will be broadcast on SBS 6 on September 4th at 9:30 PM. For the purpose of this TV show, the diva travelled through the Netherlands to meet people who wanted to restore objects which had an emotional value.
Since she won RTL 4's celebrity photo contest "Het Perfecte Plaatje" (see news posted on December 22nd, 2018), Patty Brard has taken part in several shoots as a photographer.
Recently, Dutch children's charity "Esther Vergeer foundation" commissioned the diva to photograph a young boy named Mats who is a huge fan of auto racing. The ex-Luv' singer got emotional because of the child when she was interviewed by SBS 6's entertainment news program "Shownieuws".
Source: Shownieuws, Story, Patty Brard on social media
Yesterday, the Luv' ladies were supposed to perform twice.
In the afternoon, they sang as part of an event named "De 24 uur van Montfoort" in Montfoort, Netherlands. Everything seemed good on the surface in the beginning but at the end of the show, José Hoebee did not feel well and was obliged to leave the stage. Marga Scheide and Chimène van Oosterhout ended the live performance without their colleague.
Photo by David Hay Gibson (tour manager)
The group was expected to perform at a Flemish festival called "Vostertfeesten" in Bree, Belgium later that day next to disco acts like Gibson Brothers and Just A Little Bit More (featuring ex-Dolly Dots Anita & Esther). Due to José's illness, Luv' preferred to cancel their show. Earlier this week, the singer posted a message on her Facebook page insinuating that she was not in good shape but that "the show must go on".
A statement written by their tour manager David Hay Gibson was posted on the official Luv' fan page on Facebook to announce the bad news.
We wish José a speedy recovery and hope she will be back on stage soon!!!
Today, the former Luv' singer Ria Thielsch celebrates her birthday!!!
On December 30th, 2018, she was replaced by Dutch media personality Chimène van Oosterhout as member of Holland's greatest girl group. Luv's new line-up was announced in the media on January 4th, 2019 (see news posted on that day).
The beautiful Indo-Dutch lady took part in Luv' twice:
In 1980-1981: this first period was marked by the success of the Top 5 hit "My Number One" and the "Forever Yours" album.
Front cover of "My Number One" by Luv' (1980)
Between March 2016 and December 2018, Ria toured the nostalgia circuit with Marga and José in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Luv' in 2018 - Photo by René Moonen
Before and after Luv', Ria worked in the fashion industry for years. She was even a photo model between 1968 and 1991.
Now she is a happy mother and grandmother who enjoys life with her friends and family!!!
Happy Birthday Ria!!! Hartelijk Gefeliciteerd Met Je Verjaardag Ria!!!
Luv's latest news (photo courtesy of David Hay Gibson, tour manager)
Recently, the ladies gave two private shows and a public performance:
August 11th: Flanders International Airport (Internationale luchthaven Kortrijk-Wevelgem, Belgium) - private performance
August 16th: Wognum, Netherlands (private performance)
August 19th: At the café-restaurant Moeke Spijkstra during the Kermis (funfair) in Blaricum, Netherlands (public show). On that occasion, Luv' posed with Dutch record producer Hans van Hemert (who launched the group in 1976) for a backstage photograph.
"Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" (the seventh single by Luv') was released forty years ago, in August 1979. This pop song appears on the formation's second album "Lots Of Luv'" (see article posted on May 16th, 2019). It was the group's last single release by Phonogram/Philips Records before their transfer to CNR/Carrere. Though it was a respectable hit record in Benelux, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark, it didn't achieve the sales of the previous records.
History
After the success of "Casanova" (see article posted on April 25th, 2019) on the Continental European charts, the trio's label decided to release "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" as a follow-up single. The song's title and chorus lyrics dealt with a famous children's counting rhyme in English speaking countries. Its Bouzouki and Balalejka-theme is highly inspired by Boney M's Rasputin. The track had not the hit potential of the #1 singles "You're the Greatest Lover" and "Trojan Horse".
Luv' vs. Boney M. - Eeny Meeny Rasputin (Klyk mashup)
Video posted on Casper Janssen's YouTube channel
The release of "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" happened in a special context. The Luv' girls were experiencing trouble with Phonogram. The singers and their producer Hans van Hemert considered indeed that the record company didn't do its best to promote them abroad. Moreover, Holland's sweethearts had to face the competition with two other girl groups in their homeland (Babe and Dolly Dots) which became more and more popular. In early July 1979, the Dutch press announced that Van Hemert would leave Phonogram in August and would probably take his Luv' protégées with him. Previously, Luv' and their team (their manager Pim ter Linde as well as their producers and songwriters, Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer) formed a limited company called "InterLUV" to control all the aspects of their career (including the distribution of their records).
Hikrant, April 12th, 1979
Press clippings about Hans van Hemert's break-up with Phonogram (click on them to enlarge and read them):
Hitkrant - July 5th, 1979
De Telegraaf - July 7th, 1979
Hitkrant, September 1979
The media not only paid attention to Luv's career but also focused on their privacy. Patty Brard and TROS Quizmaster Ron Brandsteder got married in Vinkeveen, Netherlands on July 31st, 1979.
Het Parool, August 1st, 1979
Hitkrant, August 16th, 1979
Freizeit Magazin (Germany), August 1979
José van de Wijdeven separated from her husband Maarten Andreoli and started to date Dutch record producer Will Hoebee in the Spring of 1979.
Hitkrant, August 30th, 1979
Marga Scheide graced the cover of the September 27th, 1979 issue of Dutch teen magazine "Hitkrant". It was explained that "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" came out without the consent of the ladies. Their record label even planned to put out a third single from the "Lots of Luv'" album. "I don't understand why they want to release a single from an LP which already turned gold," the blonde Luv' singer said. "It's better if you release new material. Now that we move to another record company, we cannot change the situation. Fortunately, we are working very hard on a new single. The public will decide which one is the best," she added.
Chart performance
"Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" entered the Dutch Top 40 on August 25th, 1979 and later peaked at #11. It also reached #6 on the Nationale Hitparade (Netherlands), #9 in Belgium, #8 in Denmark, #17 in Switzerland and #36 in Germany.
TV performances
Luv' took advantage of a big exposure on television as they performed "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" live at the IFA (the world's largest consumer electronics trade fair in Berlin) on "Musikladen" (a high-rated German TV show) on August 30th, 1979. They also promoted the song on another legendary TV program: AVRO's TopPop.
* August 30th, 1979: Eeny Meeny Miny Moe on Musikladen (Radio Bremen), West Germany.
* September 1st, 1979: Eeny Meeny Miny Moe on TROS Top 50/Rockplanet on TROS, Netherlands * September 6th, 1979: Eeny Meeny Miny Moe on AVRO's TopPop, Netherlands
Tracklisting and release:
7" Vinyl - original release by Philips/Phonogram Records in August 1979:
30th anniversary of Michelle Gold as a member of Luv'
Thanks Martin Vink & Arnold Kroone for the information, pictures and press clippings as well as Co Rnz for additional photos and support.
Photo edited by Co Rnz
On October 27th 1988, the original Luv' trio (Patty Brard, Marga Scheide and José Hoebee), took everybody by surprise when they appeared on the TV charity show "Samen" hosted by Mies Bouwman on AVRO. They sang their signature song "You're the Greatest Lover", more than seven years after the group's first break-up (see article posted on October 27th, 2018) The following weeks, the press announced that Luv' was planning a comeback. British hit machine of the 1980s "Stock Aitken & Waterman" (whose artist roster included Rick Astley, Mel & Kim, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Bananarama) were rumoured to produce an album with the girls. However, nothing materialized with The Hit Factory. The Luv' ladies were determined to make a comeback anyway. But in April 1989, José didn't want to be involved in a reunion due to family reasons (she preferred to focus on the education of her son Tim). She was replaced by 23-year-old Diana van Berlo.
De Telegraaf - July 31st, 1989
Patty, Marga and Diana started to record new material at the Dureco Studio in Weesp, Netherlands. But in early August 1989, Patty suddenly left Luv' as she wanted to concentrate on her TV career: she signed a contract with the newly created RTL Veronique channel. A replacement had to be found. Marga recruited 28-year-old Michelle Gold, a talented vocalist from the UK. Prior to Luv', Michellewas an experienced singer who cut a few solo singles released by the UK and Dutch label Palace: * "Lost In Love" (1985) - written and produced by R&B artist Butch Ingram with Grover Washington Jr. as a guest artist:
Michelle Gold - Lost In love
* "Oh Suzy" (1986) - written by Marshall and produced by Michelle Gold
- "Give Me The Time" (1988) - written by Bill Hagans and produced by Lionel Job and Bill Hagans
In addition to her solo career, Michelle was a background singer for James Ingram, Grover Washington JR, Nik Kershaw, Helen Terry (of Culture Club) andPrincess. She also performed with Serge Gainsbourg, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Run DMC and Madonna.
On August 14th, 1989, Holland's most-read newspaper De Telegraaf presented the new line-up of Luv' (featuring Michelle Gold for the first time):
With the help from Marga's partner Jacques Zwart (aka E. Mergency), a repertoire (highly inspired by the catchy sound of "Stock, Aitken & Waterman") was chosen. English producer Nigel Wright was hired to supervise the recording sessions of the mini-album "For You". This former member of the legendary Jazz-funk band Shakatak was a veteran of the music scene thanks to the hit records he produced for Mirage, Imagination and numerous acts. The first single by the new Luv' was the Dance-pop track "Welcome To My Party" which came out in October 1989. The first live show of Marga and her new colleagues took place at the Four Roses Discotheque in Hilversum in front of a select audience (including TV mogul John de Mol) on September 10th, 1989.
Article published on September 14th, 1989
A few days later, the viewers watched the first TV performance of the "new" Luv' trio on TROS program "Grote Club Show".
* September 29th, 1989: Welcome To My Party on Grote Club Show (TROS), Netherlands
The Dutch tabloid press paid attention once again to Luv' and provided information about Michelle (her artistic past and her motherhood (she had a 10-year old son named Teo). Press clippings (click on the pictures to enlarge them):
Veronica Magazine - September 23rd, 1989
Hitkrant, October 14th, 1989
De Telegraaf, October 20th, 1989
Story, February 9th, 1990 (article about Teo, Michelle's son)
In February 1990, Luv' performed at a student hall of residence in Leiden, Netherlands. Prince Friso attended the show. Michelle and the hip member of the Royal Family clicked.
"Welcome to my party" entered the Dutch Top 40 on October 21st, 1989 and later peaked at #22. It also reached #19 on the Nationale Hitparade in the Netherlands and the 28th position on the BRT Top 30 in Belgium.
Luv' performed the track on several TV shows :
* October 20th, 1989: Linda (TROS), Netherlands
* October 20th, 1989: Berg (RTL-Véronique), Netherlands
* October 21st, 1989:Top 40 (Veronica), Netherlands
* Unknown broadcast date in late 1989: Pak De Poen (BRT 1), Belgium
* November 1st, 1989: B.O.O.S (Veronica), Netherlands
* November 2nd, 1989: Hits Uit Holland (RTL-Véronique), Netherlands
* November 11th, 1989: St Maarten: The Friendly Island (Veronica), Netherlands
* December 18th, 1989: Muziek in Natura (AVRO), Netherlands
* July 11th, 1990: Rerun of St Maarten: The Friendly Island (Veronica), Netherlands
The release of Luv's mini-album "For You" was announced on the November 11th, 1989 issue of the Pan-European trade magazine "Music & Media":
Another article was published on December 2nd, 1989 in "Music & Media":
In late 1989, Luv' and other Dutch pop acts (Desirée, Justian & Mandy, MC Miker G, Marjon, Nando, Oscare, Sisters) joined forces in the "All Stars" project to raise funds for third world children. They recorded a cover version of Starmaker (originally performed by The Kids from Fame in 1982) and released it as a charity single (which peaked at #57 on the Nationale Hitparade in Holland).
On December 18th 1989, a TV special "Muziek in Natura" (taped in Sri Lanka and featuringI Don't Wanna Be Lonely, Girl Like Me and Welcome To My Party) aired on AVRO.
AVRO Bode - December 1989
TV Magazine, December 1989
Meanwhile, Mercury/Phonogram Records (in charge of the back catalogue of the initial trio) released a megamix ("Luv' Hitpack") conceived by the then successful producer and remixer Peter "Hithouse" Slaghuis in December 1989. This megamix was included on a CD compilation ("Greatest Hits") which came out in early 1990 and which featured tracks from the late 1970s. Marga, Diana, Michelle and their record company, Dureco were furious with these releases. The ladies were afraid it might ruin their efforts to promote Luv's new material.
Story, late 1989
The next single was entitled "I Don't Wanna Be Lonely" and released in December 1989. It was a cover version of a club hit by Joan Orleans but it flopped. The girls performed the song on the Veronica TV show "Nederland Muziekland" on February 3rd, 1990.
Then Dureco Records licensed "Girl Like Me", a track taken from the "For You" mini-album, to the Japanese label Alfa International. It was promoted as a "Eurobeat" song (this music style was popular back then in the Asian archipelago) and was included on Japanese compilations. This strategy to conquer the "Land of the Rising Sun" did not succeed.
Luv' tried to recapture the joyful sound of the original line-up with the follow-up single: "Hit-Medley" (released in German-speaking countries in 1990 by RCA/BMG).
Weekend, April 21st, 1990
In June 1990, Michelle Goldleft the group as she could not cope with frequent round trips between the UK and Holland.
Story, June 29th, 1990
Despite Michelle's departure from Luv', Marga and Diana wanted to go on and searched for a new Luv' singer. But that's another story...
De Telegraaf, July 12th, 1990
Backstage pictures (photo courtesy of Martin Vink & Arnold Kroone):
Martin and Luv'
The fans lost trace of Michelle Gold...until recently.
The beautiful and talented British lady has two profiles on the internet:
* First as a successful fashion stylist working under her first name Rachel Gold:
* Then as a vocalist under her stage name Michelle Gold. In late 2018, she launched a website, Twitter and Instagram accounts as well as a Facebook page to promote her new activities. Michelle now performs with the jazz fusion-soul band "Red Heads". She plans to put out an EP soon.
Michelle's SoundCloud: click here to listen to her music.
Michelle's Facebook page: click here to read her posts.
Michelle's Instagram account: click here to see photos.
Michelle's YouTube channel: click here to watch videos.
Michelle's Twitter account: click here to read her tweets.
Source: Michellegoldmusic.com, Rachelgoldstylist.com, Discogs.com, Beeld en Geluid, Music & Media archives (https://americanradiohistory.com), Luv' weblog archives, Martin Vink, Co Rnz...
