Forever Yours by Luv': 40th anniversary

Front cover of Forever Yours by Luv'

Forty years ago, in December 1980, CNR/Carrere Records released Luv's fourth album "Forever Yours". This opus is considered as the last iconic LP of the trio. It includes the hit singles "One More Little Kissy", "My Number One" and "Tingalingaling". This record featured Ria Thielsch who replaced Patty Brard. 

History

In July 1980, Patty Brard suddenly left Luv' as the ladies were promoting the "One More Little Kissy" single (see article posted on July 26th, 2020). This defection had bad consequences as new material had already been written for a next album. A replacement was quickly found: Ria Thielsch, a photo model who already knew Marga Scheide and a singer/limbo dancer from the Ricardo & The Flames group (see article posted on August 23rd, 2020). Ria was officially introduced to the public in September 1980 (see article posted on September 16th, 2020). She was rapidly accepted by the fans thanks to the success of "My Number One" which reached the Single Top 5 in the Netherlands and Belgium (see article posted on October 30th, 2020). 

Meanwhile, Patty was not on speaking terms with her former colleagues and only communicated with them through her lawyer. The problem was that at the time she was still a shareholder in Luv's limited company (InterLuv' B.V) and thus earned money from the record sales of the group. The dispute was eventually resolved when her shares were purchased for 400.000 Dutch guilders. 

De Telegraaf - November 4th, 1980

Click here to read the article online

In early December 1980, CNR/Carrere Records put out the album "Forever Yours", an eclectic combination of Pop, Latin American music, Schlager and Exotica sounds. Its production was supervised by Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, who had already been responsible for the trio's recordings since 1977. The songs "One More Little Kissy" and "I Win It" appeared already on the 1980 re-issue of the previous album "True Luv'" (see article posted on December 15th, 2019).

Usually, the lyrics of Luv' songs didn't deal with personal issues. However, two tracks on the LP were exceptions to the rules. "The Show Must Go On" was related to Patty's departure from Luv'. "Mother of the Hearts" (featuring the emotional solo vocals of José Hoebee) was about a painful moment in Hans van Hemert's childhood. 

Review of Forever Yours in the December 4th, 1980 edition of Hitkrant

Luv's record company organized a special event to launch "Forever Yours". During the "Nacht van CNR" (Night of CNR) approximately between late November and early December 1980, 21.000 copies of the LP were packed to be distributed in shops all over the country. Producer Hans van Hemert and his protégées, the Luv' girls helped symbolically the workers to pack up the records in the factory.  Within a few days 33.000 copies of Luv's LP were shipped to Dutch record shops. 

Article about "De Nacht van CNR" published in Teen magazine Hitkrant on December 4th, 1980

On December 10th, 1980, the Dutch chain of department stores V&D launched the Christmas campaign "Een Muzikale Kerst" published simultaneously in local and national newspapers (Algemeen Dagbald, Limburgsch dagblad, Het Parool,  Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, Leeuwarder courant, Het vrije volk). This advertising campaign promoted albums sold for Christmas. One of these records was Forever Yours.

Ad published in Algemeen Dagblad - December 10th, 1980

Click here to see it online

V&D's Christmas campaign "Een Muzikale Kerst" published in Algemeen Dagbald, Limburgsch dagblad, Het Parool,  Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, Leeuwarder courant and Het vrije volk on December 10th, 1980

Photography & Outfits

Claude Vanheye took beautiful pictures of the girls for the cover of the album. He  photographed the Who's who of pop-rock artists including Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Blondie, Kate Bush, Grace Jones and Michael Jackson.

In addition to Luv's catchy music, one important aspect was the ladies' yellow outfits designed by Carla van der Vorst (aka Carla V). She was a sought-after fashion designer who worked for many national and international stars (including Jerney Kaagman of Earth & Fire, Ellen Folley, Boney M., Marianna Faithful, Amii Stewart...)

Article about Carla V and the stars she works with in De Telegraaf - November 22nd, 1980

Click here to read the article online

Commercial response and chart performance

As a manufactured pop group which targeted youngsters, Luv' were more successful on the singles chart than on the albums chart. Indeed, 7" singles were popular among teenagers in the early 1970s and early 1980s. Forever Yours entered the Dutch hit parade on December 13th, 1980. It later peaked at #13 on the LP Top 50 and #5 on the Nationale Hitparade Top 50 in the Netherlands.  

Track listing

Back cover

A side:

• "My Number One" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:11
• "Billy the Kid" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:16
• "Never Wanted to Be..." (Janschen & Janschens) - 4:34
• "Mother of the Hearts" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:04
• "Tingalingaling" (Janschen & Janschens) - 2:30
• "The Show Must Go On" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:21

B side:

• "Ooh, I Like It Too" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:06
• "I Win It" (Janschen & Janschens)- 3:05
• "Song of Love and Understanding" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:59
• "Some Call It Happiness" (Janschen & Janschens)- 3:09
• "Be My Lover Tonight" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:27
• "One More Little Kissie" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:50

Credits:

José Hoebee - vocals

Marga Scheide - vocals

Ria Thielsch - vocals

Patty Brard - vocals

Ernö Olah & Metropole Orkest - strings

Producer: Hans van Hemert

Arranger/conductor: Piet Souer

Management: Interlinde Management

Photography: Claude Vanheye

Design: Myosotis

Art Direction: Clouds Studio

Costumes: Carla V, Voorburg

Make-up: Frans Sam

Thanks to Papillon and De Lange Shoes, Amsterdam

Release

Forever Yours came out in various editions - all depending on which countries the release took place. CNR/Carrere Records licensed the rights for the record to several labels around the world. For example, it was distributed by WEA in Japan and by KIM in Turkey.

Click here to know the details.

Turkish edition - released by KIM

Japanese edition - released by WEA

French cassette

German cassette

Scandinavian pressing

In 1981, German label Karussell reissued the album on cassette as part of its Stars & Schlager series and renamed it My Number One.

CD re-issue (Completely In Luv' box set) and availability on online platforms

Forever Yours was remastered and reissued in 2006 as part of the Completely In Luv' box set with the same track listing and four bonus tracks:

• "You're the Greatest Lover '93" (Janschen & Janschens) – 3:18
• "Megamix '93 (Long Version)" (Janschen & Janschens) – 4:04 (Medley of U.O.Me (Waldolala)/Trojan Horse/You're The Greatest Lover/Ooh, Yes I Do/Casanova)
• "Trojan Horse (2006 remix)" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:05
• "All You Need Is Luv' Jingle" (Janschen & Janschens) – 0:12

Mastering: www.pat-sound.nl

You're the Greatest Lover '93 and Megamix '93 remixed by Danceability

Trojan Horse 2006 remixed by J.R Beltman and F.M Endenburg

In 2019, Forever Yours became available on Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer. CNR Music B.V (under exclusive licence from Hans van Hemert Productions B.V) owns the copyright on this album.

Bibliography:

• Albumdossier 1969-1972 by Johan van Slooten, publ: Becht's Uitgevers
• The Story of Luv' by Peter Boonstra, 2015

Source: Co Rnz, Luv' weblog archives, Delpher.nl, Wikipedia, Discogs.com, Dutchcharts.nl