With Luv' from José: 35th anniversary of José's solo career

1981 saw the first break-up of Luv' (see article posted on March 4th, 2016). After the glory era of Holland's greatest girl group, José Hoebee's challenge was to prove that she could score hit records on her own. As the most talented member of Luv', she recorded the majority of the trio's vocal lines in the studio. So expectations were high when she went solo.

Just after Luv's disbandment, José kept a low profile for several months. Marga and she secretly provided vocals on "Tick-a-thumps my heart", a single by Babe (one of Luv's rivals) which reached the Top 20 in Belgium and the Netherlands in the summer of 1981. Though all the songs of Babe were written by Peter Koelewijn, "Tick-a-thumps" was an exception as Hans van Hemert wrote and produced it.

Babe performing "Tick-a-thumps my heart" on Dutch TV

In October of that year, José and record producer Will Hoebee got married. The wedding reception took place in David Soul's villa in Los Angeles. Soul became world famous for his role in the TV series "Starsky & Hutch" in the late 1970s. Will produced his album "Best Days Of Our Lives" which came out in 1981.

Article published in the "Privé" section of De Telegraaf on October 26th, 1981

David Soul congratulating Will and José on their wedding

Just before the launch of her solo career, José recorded the background vocals on the first album of Doris D. & The Pins produced by Piet Souer (who conceived the Luv' sound with Hans van Hemert). She was not credited on the record sleeve, which was common practise in the music industry at the time (it was before Milli Vanilli scandal). This LP included the Top 10 hit "The Marvellous Marionettes".

Doris D and The Pins singing "The Marvellous Marionettes" on "Musikladen (German TV)

Late November 1981 was a milestone in José's existence when CNR/Carrere Records released her first solo single "I'm so sorry". The song was written by Piet Souer and produced by Pim Koopman (member of legendary pop-rock band Kayak and producer of sister duo Maywood). Moreover, José had a helping hand from Marga Scheide for her styling and her husband Will Hoebee for musical expertise. Though the singer was surrounded by generous and devoted people, her debut record wasn't a mainstream success.

On December 5th, 1981 "I'm so sorry" entered the Tipparade (a list of singles that didn't chart on the main hit parade) and later peaked at #3. It failed to break into the Dutch Top 40 but reached #39 on the Nationale Hitparade (currently Single Top 100).

José performing her debut single on "Nederland Muziekland" on Veronica (1981)

Photo courtesy of Jos Theuns

"I'm so sorry" on Nederland Muziekland

"I'm So Sorry" on "Popcorn" (KRO)

"I'm So Sorry" on ČT2 ( Czechoslovak public television, 1983)

Photo montage by Co Rnz

CNR/Carrere Records licensed the rights for the record to several labels in Europe (Trema in France, Teldec/Ultraphone in Germany....).

Front cover of "I'm So Sorry" (Dutch edition, CNR/Carrere Records, 1981)

German edition of "I'm so sorry" released by Teldec/Ultraphone

Information about "I'm so sorry" communicated by Teldec/Ultraphone

French edition released by Trema in 1982

Months later, legendary chanteuse Sylvie Vartan covered the track in French ("La Sortie de Secours").

Sylvie Vartan performing "La Sortie de Secours" on "Champs-Elysées" (Antenne 2, French TV, 1982)

Josés career really took off with the follow-up record. Her 1982 single "I Will Follow Him" (originally performed by Little Peggy March) hit the number one spot in the Netherlands and Belgium.