My Number One: 40th anniversary of Luv's last Top 5 single

"So keep your head up in the sky, we're gonna be one forever..."

Special thanks to Co Rnz (Official Luv', LUV' fan page, Ria Thielsch Fan Zone : Forever Yours)

Luv' anno 1980: Ria Thielsch, Marga Scheide and José Hoebee

Forty years ago, Luv's twelfth single entitled "My Number One" was released by CNR/Carrere Records. It featured a new member of the girl group: Ria Thielsch who replaced successfully Patty Brard. This record later entered the Dutch Top 40 and became a smash hit. It also charted in Belgium and Germany. Let's celebrate the 40th anniversary of this classic pop hit. 

History

The summer of 1980 was crucial in Luv's career. After Patty Brard's sudden departure from the group in July, a replacement had to be found rapidly because of legal obligations (see article posted on July 26th, 2020). Photo model Ria Thielsch was chosen (see article posted on August 23rd, 2020). At first, she was supposed to be a temporary member. When it became clear that Patty would not come back, she became a permanent singer of Luv' (see news posted on September 16th, 2020).  After a succession of hit records with Patty ("You're the Greatest Lover", "Trojan Horse", "Casanova"...), Luv's challenge was to prove that the trio was still popular. Would Ria be accepted by the fans? The answer was "yes". 

The viewers discovered the new Luv' girl when she performed "One More Little Kissy" with her colleagues on "Boemerang", a Flemish TV program which aired in late September 1980 on BRT channel. 

The next step was the release of the single "My Number One". This song used elements from the military march and is Luv's best single according to record producer Hans van Hemert. The release party of the record took place in late October 1980 in the villa of the group's manager Pim ter Linde. On that occasion, Dutch powerlifter Gerard du Prie (who won the strongman competition "Strongest Man of the Netherlands" in 1979) was present and lifted the ladies in front of the photographers. 

Click on the images to enlarge them:

De Waarheid - November 1st, 1980

Click here to read the article online

Hitkrant - November 6th, 1980

One of the earliest mentions of My Number One was an article in Dutch newspaper Het Vrije Volk published on October 25th, 1980. 

Click here to read the article online.

As the new single came out, it was announced that Luv' would stop their live performances in 1981 to focus on their recordings as well as TV and radio shows.

Hitkrant - October 23rd, 1980

De Telegraaf - October 27th, 1980

Click here to read the article online

Dutch teen magazine Hitkrant set up a contest for its readers to know which position Luv's new single would reach on the Top 40. My Number One eventually peaked at #5. The winners of this contest could meet the Luv' singers for tea time.

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Hitkrant - October 30th, 1980: Which position will My Number One reach on the Dutch Top 40?

Hitkrant - January 1981: Results of the contest: My Number One peaking at #5 and two lucky winners to meet Luv' for tea time

On October 31st, My Number One premiered on the influential Veronica/Hilversum 3 radio station and on AVRO's TopPop on TV. 

Luv' on TopPop

The ladies performed their song on other TV shows in Holland (Ted Show, Rockplanet, Veronica Awards, Flip Fluitketel Show).  This media exposure pays off as "My Number One" became successful in the Netherlands and Belgium. Luv' seemed to be back for good. 

Luv' on De Flip Fluitketel Show (December 1st, 1980)

Click here to read the article online/ 

Moreover, Luv' were supposed to take part in the World Popular Song Festival (also known as Yamaha Music Festival) in Tokyo, Japan with the track "Be My Lover Tonight" in November 1980. This contest could have meant their breakthrough in Asia. Instead, the trio preferred to perform on the legendary TV show Musikladen in Germany which was Luv's biggest export market.

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Luv' on Musikladen (broadcast on November 13th, 1980)

During the Autumn of 1980, Luv' kept on appearing in the Dutch, Flemish and German press.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them:

Hitkrant poster - October 23rd, 1980

Joepie - October 26th, 1980

Click here to read the article online

Luv' on Musikladen - Photo published in German teen magazine Bravo (November 1980)

Hitkrant - November 20th, 1980

Hitkrant: lyrics of My Number One  - November 20th, 1980

Hitkrant poster - November 27th, 1980

Veronica Magazine - November 29th, 1980

Privé - December 13th, 1980

Veronica Magazine - December 27th, 1980

At the same time, the Luv' ladies (as popular and fit Dutch celebrities) were sponsored by the French manufacturing company of sports equipment Le Coq Sportif.

Ria was accepted by the fans thanks to the success of My Number One. In mid-December, as the single was still high on the charts, an incident occurred and brought Luv' to a standstill. But that's another story.....

TV performances

* October 31st/November 14th and 21st:  My Number One on AVRO's TopPop, Netherlands

 

* Unknown broadcast date: promo video for My Number One on TV

* November 8th: My Number One on Ted Show (NCRV), Netherlands

* November 13th: My Number One on Musikladen (Radio Bremen), West Germany

* November 17th: My Number One on TROS Top 50/Rockplanet (TROS/Nederland 2), Netherlands

* November 19th: My Number One on Veronica Awards (Veronica), Netherlands

* December 1st: My Number One on De Flip Fluitketel Show (TROS), Netherlands

Chart performance

On November 8th, 1980, My Number One was chosen as Alarmschijf (record of the week or hit tip) by Dutch station Radio Veronica. It was played in heavy rotation on Veronica to make it a hit record. 

This pop song peaked at #15 on the Europarade (a compilation of European charts). It reached #4 on the Nationale Hitparade and #5 on the Dutch Top 40 in the Netherlands as well as #5 on the BRT Top 30 and #7 on the Ultratop in Belgium. 

The single was a minor hit in Germany (#60 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control Charts). It could have been a bigger success but a bad event stopped the progression of the record in the hit parade. I will mention this sad story in another article.....

Tracklisting & release

My Number One

7" vinyl single (45 rpm) - original release by CNR/Carrere Records in October 1980

A side: My Number One (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:11
B side: The Show Must Go On (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:21

Produced by Hans van Hemert

Arranged and conducted by Piet Souer

Management: Interlinde Management

Photography: Clouds Studios

Styling: De Lange, Amsterdam

Click here for details about the release of My Number One. 

Original Dutch cover

German cover

Bibliography: 

• Top 40 Hitdossier 1956-2005 (9e editie) by Johan van Slooten, publ: Gottmer Bech
• The Story of Luv' by Peter Boonstra

Source: Luv' Weblog archives, Facebook (Official Luv', LUV' fan page, Ria Thielsch Fan Zone : Forever Yours), Wikipedia, Discogs.com, 45cat.com, Delpher.nl, YouTube, Dutchcharts.nl, ANP Historisch Archief, Toen gisteren nog vandaag was (gisterennogvandaag.com)