You're the Greatest Lover

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"You're the Greatest Lover"
Single by Luv'
from the album With Luv'
B-side Everybody's Shakin' Hands On Broadway
Released July 1978
Format 7" Vinyl Single
Recorded 1978
Genre Pop
Length 2:50
Label Philips/Phonogram Records (Benelux, France, Spain, Scandinavia, Japan, South Africa)
Carrere Records (German speaking countries, UK, Italy)
Tonpress (Poland)
West Records (Turkey)
Mercury Records (Canada)
Writer(s) Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer (as Janschen & Janschens)
Producer(s) Hans van Hemert
Certification Platinum (Netherlands), Gold (Germany, Belgium)
Luv' singles chronology
"U.O.Me (Theme from Waldolala)"
(1978)		 "You're the Greatest Lover"
(1978)		 "Trojan Horse"
(1978)

"You're the Greatest Lover" is a single by Dutch girl group Luv'. It was first released in July 1978 by Philips/Phonogram Records. It appears on the 1978 debut album With Luv' and on compilations (Luv' Gold, 25 Jaar Na Waldolala, Completely In Luv'...). It is the group's international breakthrough as it was successful in a large part of Continental Europe and South Africa. Luv' reached its peak with this million seller. It is often considered as the signature song of the female pop act.

A decade later, the German subsidiary of Philips re-issued the track on a CD single. In 1993, the Dutch Top 40 hit "Megamix '93" was backed with an Eurodance remix of "The Greatest Lover".

Background

In the spring of 1978, manager Han Meijer filed a lawsuit against Patty Brard, José Hoebee and Marga Scheide who were not satisfied by the way he developed their career. Meijer considered the name of the formation as his ownership and took the three singers to court about the use of it.[1] Finally, in early June 1978, the ladies won the legal action and were officially allowed to be named Luv'.[2][3] Pim ter Linde became their new manager. They were ready to concentrate on their main goal: to have an international career.
After the success of "U.O.Me" in Benelux, Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, the group's songwriters, noticed that the light pop/disco and Latin American arrangements were more appropriate than a more serious repertoire (like the trio's first singles). They composed "You're the Greatest Lover" which featured Spanish guitars. It became a big selling record as it entered the charts in a dozen countries. This track was the first of a string of international hit singles. It reached the first position in some countries in Continental Europe.[4] It was entitled "Sing Me, Sing Me a Chanson" to adapt the French market and succeeded in reaching the Top 20 in South Africa. A Spanish version (entitled "Eres Mi Mejor Amante") was recorded, which permitted Luv' to have a minor hit in Spain.

Because Luv' performed "You're the Greatest Lover" on two famous German TV music shows (Disco and Musikladen), the female pop trio became a household group in German speaking countries. The song, which sold 600.000 units in Germany was part of the soundtrack of the fifty-fourth episode (entitled "Anschlag auf Bruno") of Derrick (TV series).[5]

The track was also used over the credits of a 1979 German sex comedy film called Sunnyboy und Sugarbaby, which received significant late-night airplay in the early days of HBO under its English-language title, She's 19 and Ready. The song was also popular behind the Iron Curtain, especially in East Germany, Poland and Hungary as it was frequently aired on communist radio stations. However, records distribution was limited in the Eastern Bloc. Sales were hard to evaluate in this part of the world.

Track listing and release

Philips/Phonogram licensed the rights for Luv's records to various labels around the world.[6]

1978 Original release: 7" Vinyl

  1. "You're the Greatest Lover" - 2:50
  2. "Everybody's Shaking Hands On Broadway" - 3:27
Countries Year Label Catalog number
Netherlands/Belgium/Spain/New Zealand/Norway 1978 Philips/Phonogram Records 6012828
France 1978 Philips/Phonogram Records 6173627
Germany 1978 Carrere Records 2044122
Italy 1978 Carrere Records CAR OO1
UK 1978 Carrere Records/EMI EMI 2888
Poland 1978 Tonpress 735
Canada 1978 Mercury Records M-76005
South Africa 1978 Philips/Phonogram Records TOS 1192
Japan 1978 Carrere Records SFL 2374
Turkey 1978 West W 29
Brazil 1979 Philips/Phonogram Records 6012898

1989 Re-issue: Mini CD single

  1. "You're the Greatest Lover"
  2. "Everybody's Shaking Hands On Broadway"
  3. "Trojan Horse"
Country Year Label
Germany 1989 Philips Records

Cover versions

  • In 1978, Ulla Norden covered the song in German as "Wir Sind Verrückt (Wir Beide)".[7]
  • In 1979, Jonathan King recorded a cover version of Luv's hit that peaked at #67 on the UK Singles Charts.[8]
  • Disco Light Orchestra from Germany performed an instrumental version for their LP Disco Sensation in 1979.[9]
  • James Last orchestra performed an instrumental version on his album "New Non Stop Dancing 79".[10]
  • Teenage singer Eini covered the song (entitled Vetonaula) in Finnish in 1979".[11]
  • Irish pop group Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions had a top 10 hit with this song on the Irish Charts in 1979.[12]
  • 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.[13]
  • The Hallmond All Stars orchestra performed an instrumental version on the compilation Night Fever Hammond Hit Parade[14] released in the UK in 1996.
  • In 1999, Kristina Bach sang a Schlager version (entitled Hey, ich such' hier nicht den größten Lover).[15]
  • In 2000, a dance music oriented cover by Loona renamed Latino Lover[16] 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).
  • German industrial band Massiv in Mensch recorded an electro version in 2004.[17]
  • In 2005, the version of The Greatest Lover by Flemish dance group Swoop peaked at #25 on the Ultratop singles charts in Flanders.
  • In 2008, the Dutch singer Silvia Swart sang "Geef me liefde vannacht" ("Be my lover tonight".[18]

Charts & certifications

"You're the Greatest Lover" was a #1 hit single in the Netherlands, Flanders (Belgium), Germany, Switzerland and Denmark. It was also successful in Austria and South Africa and to a lesser extent in France. Because of the good performance in the above-mentioned territories, the record reached the 5th position of the Europarade (currently the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) which combined the weekly charts of various European countries into a single countdown.

Chart (1978) Peak
position		 Certification (If any)
Austria (Austriancharts.com) 2
Belgium/Flanders (BRT Top 30/Radio 2 Top 30) 1 Gold
Denmark (BT Hitlisten) 1
Europarade (currently Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) 5
France (SNEP charts) 19
Germany (Musikmarkt/Media Control) 1 Gold [19]
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 1 Platinum [20]
Netherlands (Nationale Hitparade (currently Single Top 100) 1
South Africa (www.rock.co.za) 15
Switzerland (Swisscharts.com) 1
Preceded by Dutch Top 40 number-one single
September 2, 1978 - September 23, 1978		 Succeeded by
"Grease (song)" by Frankie Valli
Preceded by German Media Control Charts number-one single
November 10, 1978 - December 1, 1978		 Succeeded by
"Y.M.C.A. (song)" by Village People
Preceded by
"Mama Leone" by Bino
 Swiss Music Charts number-one single
November 26, 1978 – December 10, 1978		 Succeeded by
"Mary's Boy Child" by Boney M.
"You're the Greatest Lover"
File:The Greatest Lover Duitsland mini cd front.jpg
Single by Luv'
Released 1989
Format CD
Recorded 1978
Genre Pop, Disco
Label Philips Records Germany
Writer(s) Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer (a.k.a. Janschen & Janschens)
Producer(s) Hans van Hemert
Luv' singles chronology
4 Gouden Hits
(1989)		 "You're the Greatest Lover"
(1989)		 "Luv' Hitpack"
(1989)

1989 reissue, appearance on compilations and 1993 remix

In 1989, Luv' was reformed by original member Marga Scheide and two other vocalists to promote new recordings released by Dureco Records. At the same time, Luv's first record company, Philips, decided to repackage the old repertoire of the pop act. That's why a Mini CD single came out in Germany only, which included three songs from the original group's back catalogue: the 1978 number one hits "You're the Greatest Lover" and Trojan Horse as well as the disco track Everybody's Shakin' Hands On Broadway. In 1993, a Dance remix was included on the CD single version of Megamix '93. Moreover, because of its popularity, "The Greatest Lover" was part of the track listings of Luv's main compilations (Greatest Hits, Luv' Gold, 25 Jaar Na Waldolala and Completely In Luv').

References

  1. ↑ [1] article from Leeuwarder Courant newspaper published on May 26, 1978 about the lawsuit between Han Meijer and Luv'. (Dutch) Accessed: March 26, 2011
  2. ↑ [2] article from De Telegraaf newspaper published on June 2nd 1978 about Luv’s victory over Manager Han Meijer. (Dutch) Accessed: February 3, 2011
  3. ↑ [3] article from Leeuwarder Courant newspaper on June 3rd 1978. (Dutch) Accessed: March 26, 2011
  4. ↑ [4] article from Nieuwsblad van het Noorden newspaper from September 27, 1978 dealing with "The Greatest Lover" as a chart topper. (Dutch) Accessed: March 26, 2011
  5. ↑ Music Tracklisting of Derrick episodes
  6. ↑ Release details on Discogs.com Accessed: February 12, 2011
  7. ↑ Informations about Ulla Norden's cover version
  8. ↑ Details about "You're the Greatest Lover" by Jonathan King in the UK Singles Charts
  9. ↑ Disco Sensation/Disco Light Orchestra Accessed: August 30, 2010
  10. ↑ New non stop dancing 79 by James Last Accessed: August 30, 2010
  11. ↑ Vetonaula by Eini Accessed: August 30, 2010
  12. ↑ Peak positions on Irish record charts
  13. ↑ Die Molly Sisters MySpace page
  14. ↑ Night Fever Hammond Hit Parade Accessed: August 30, 2010
  15. ↑ Informations about Kristina Bach's cover version
  16. ↑ Loona's official website
  17. ↑ Website of Massiv in Mensch
  18. ↑ [5]
  19. ↑ Gold certifications given by the German recording industry association (IFPI Deutschland)
  20. ↑ Gold and platinum certifications given by the Dutch recording industry association
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