Harpo
Pop singer and songwriter Jan Torsten Svensson – born April 5, 1950, in Stockholm, Sweden – is better known by his stage name Harpo. He scored several hits in Sweden and Europe in the 1970s - including “Moviestar” (1975) and “Horoscope” (1976) – and has continued to regularly tour and occasionally record. Named after the iconic American comedian/actor/musician/Marx Brother, he began performing in children’s theater. While frequently touring Sweden, he began to write songs. Initially signed to Polar Music in 1972, he was paired up with producers/songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus to create children’s music in Swedish. The pop experiment did not work, and Harpo was released from his contract. Benny and Björn would form Abba shortly afterwards. Harpo then connected with producer Bengt Palmers and signed with EMI. His first two singles – 1973’s “Honolulu” and “Sayonara” – were hits in Sweden: the former reached the Top 10 and the latter rose to the Number 1 position. However, 1975’s single “Moviestar” (featuring Abba's Anni-Frid Lyngstad on backing vocals) was a hit across Europe, reaching Number 1 in Denmark, Germany and Sweden. Further hit singles included “Motorcycle Mama” and “Horoscope”, his second most popular song, which hit Number 1 in Denmark. While continuing to release hit singles, none of them achieved the same kind of success that “Moviestar” and “Horoscope” had achieved. His albums include Leo the Leopard (1974), Harpo & Bananaband (1975), and 1976’s Moviestar, which rose to Number 65 in Australia. While not as prolific as the 1970s, Harpo continued to release singles and albums into the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond including Harpo (1988) and Jan Harpo Svensson 05 (2005). Behind the scenes, he set up his own label, Igloo Records, and produced several bands in the 1990s. Still popular in Germany and Sweden, Harpo has remained a popular live attraction.
©Copyright Music Story Stephen Schnee 2023
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Portrait of Harpo
Pop - Erschienen bei Parlophone Sweden am 01.01.1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Big-5 : Harpo
Pop - Erschienen bei Parlophone Sweden am 19.11.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
We Should Be Building Bridges
Pop - Erschienen bei Igloo Records am 01.10.2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Så mycket bättre 2021 - Tolkningarna
Pop - Erschienen bei Igloo Records am 18.12.2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Hollywood Tapes
Pop - Erschienen bei Parlophone Sweden am 01.01.1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Råck änd råll rätt å slätt
Pop - Erschienen bei Parlophone Sweden am 18.02.1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Moviestar (From Benjamin's)
Pop - Erschienen bei Record Company TEN am 03.05.2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Fool Of Yesterday
Pop - Erschienen bei Universal Music AB am 29.04.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Harpo: Moviestar - Greatest Hits
Pop - Erschienen bei Parlophone Sweden am 25.03.1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Honolulu (50th Anniversary EP)
Pop - Erschienen bei WM Sweden am 16.06.2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Love Is Great and Butterflies Are Angels
Pop - Erschienen bei Igloo Records am 01.05.2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo