Invaluable

Du vet väl om att du är … Invaluable — Ingemar Olsson’s best-known songs, in English. Recorded at Benny Andersson’s studio “Rixmixningverket.” Seven songs were recorded in Sweden, three at United Western Studios in Hollywood.

Track list

1. Sköna människor – Amazing People
2. En liten bit i taget – Little By Little
3. Du vet väl om att du är värdefull – You Are Invaluable
4. Relationer – Everybody Human
5. Genomskådad – Into the Open
6. Framtiden – Futureland
7. Hoppet som bär mej – A Hope That I Carry
8. Luffarens vaggsång – Lullaby for a Hobo
9. Himmelrik – Got It All
10. Nu vill jag veta – Please Let Me Know

His melodies work in any language. But could the unique, quietly ingenious lyrics really be translated into English?

“I actually think the English lyrics are better,” Ingemar says, “or at least just as good. The content is essentially unchanged, but the phrasing often comes out better in English. Since 1.3 billion people in the world speak English, but only 10 million speak Swedish, English simply has more words and nuances to draw on.”

“Once I started singing in English in the studio, it actually changed how the musicians played, too!”

Two of the musicians, Per-Erik Hallin and Backa Hans Eriksson, were there back in 1978, when the songs were first recorded in the US with Swedish lyrics. Now, many years later, they’re joined by Per Lindvall, Staffan Astner, and Jörgen Ingeström, along with the horn section Bejstam–Jansson–Nordén and backing vocalists Frank Ådahl, Katarina Millton, Sabina Banck, and Josefin Jehander.

When Ingemar started out on the pop-club and school-dance circuit in Stockholm in the ’60s, every song was in English. His first single as a solo artist was called “Good Old Sundayschool,” and more than half the songs on his first album were in English. Since then he’s studied English at university and toured abroad more times than he can count, singing in English throughout.

“American author Jeff Jones has helped me with my English lyrics,” Ingemar says. “We met back in the ’70s and have stayed in touch ever since. He understands how I think and helps me choose the best words … the idiomatic turns of phrase that a native English-speaking listener needs.”

The album Invaluable is available on every major digital platform — Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram — and on CD, with all the lyrics in an illustrated booklet. On Ingemar’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/c/ingemarolsson/videos ), he performs the album’s songs in music videos filmed and edited by Per Johansson.