Main image

Norwegian-born Australian composer, conductor, arranger, record producer, pianist/keyboardist, guitarist, actor, music teacher and TV host.
Born 20 September 1938 in Oslo.

Libaek first arrived in Australia in 1960 whilst touring with The Windjammers, promoting the Louis de Rochemont film Windjammer. Shortly after their disbandment and upon completing his education at the New York's Juilliard School of Music, he moved to Australia with his wife Lolita Rivera. In 1963, he started working for CBS' Australian branch, where he worked as a producer, A&R manager and musical director. He left CBS in 1968 to work as a freelance composer, arranger and conductor. During this time, he also started composing music for Australian film and TV productions.
In 1977, he moved to Los Angeles and started working as an arranger and orchestrator of pop music. In 1986, he was hired by Hanna-Barbera to score a series of animated films. He returned to Australia in 1994, continuing work as conductor and composer, both of soundtracks and classical works. In 1996, he became the resident conductor of Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra.
In 2000, he was elected president of the Music Arrangers Guild of Australia.

ALBUMS


Sven Erik Libæk*
Snowflakes
2017
Sven Libaek
Dark World / Danger Reef
2007
Sven Libaek
Inner Space (The Lost Film Music Of Sven Libaek)
2006, ,
Soundtrack/Score/Space-Age/Easy Listening/Swing
Sven Libaek
I Love Australian Movies
1984, Vinyl, ,
Score/Soundtrack
The Sydney Strings Arranged And Conducted By Sven Libaek
Vol. #1
1978, LP, Album, Starborne Productions
Sven Libaek
Grass - A Rock Musical
1974, LP, Festival Records
Sven Libaek
Classical Piano Favourites - Sven Libaek At The Sydney Opera House Steinway
1974, LP, Album, M7
Van Ludwig*
Moonlight Sonata
1974, 7", Single, M7
Sven Libaek And His Orchestra*
Solar Flares
1974
Sven Libaek
Thatcherie
1973, 7", Single, Festival Records
Sven Libaek
Ron & Val Taylor's Inner Space - Original Television Score
1973
Sven Libaek
Boney Theme / Boney Title Theme
1972, 7", Single, Festival Records
Sven Libaek
Boney (Original T.V. Soundtrack Recording)
1972
Sven Libaek
Nickel Queen (Original Soundtrack Recording Of)
1971, LP, Album, Philips
Sven Libaek
Libaek Conducts Allworth - Transient
1971, LP, Album, MCA Records
Sven Libaek
The Set
1969
Sven Libaek
To Ride a White Horse
1968, 7", Single, Festival Records
Sven Libaek
Lonely Australian Landscape
1967, 7", Single, Festival Records
Sven Libaek
The Music Of Sven Libaek
1967
Sven Libaek
To Ride A White Horse
1966, ,
Soundtrack
Sven Libaek
Nature Walkabout
1966
Lasse Kolstad, Harald Tusberg, Sven Erik Libæk*, Kaare Terland, Øivind Bergh, The Norwegian State Broadcasting Orchestra And Chorus*
"Windjammer"
1958
Ponce*, Castelnuovo-Tedesco*, Villa-Lobos*, Tárrega*, Tansman*, Barrios*, Libæk* - Jose Luis Gonzalez
20th Century Guitar Music
David Gray (10) With Tommy Tycho And Sven Libaek
Magical Melodies - 30 Tenor Favourites
Various
Trollkrem
2015, Box, Comp, Ltd + 4xCD, Troll, Universal Music Group, ,
Pop Rock/Beat/Rock & Roll/Schlager/Ragtime
Gary Shearston
Here & There Now & Then An Anthology Of Gary Shearston
2007, 2xCD, Comp, Mono, Rouseabout Records, ,
Folk/Folk Rock/Pop Rock
The Atlantics
The Complete CBS Recordings '63-'65: Volume One
1997, CD, ,
Surf/Instrumental
The Atlantics
Now It's Stompin' Time With The Atlantics
1992, ,
Surf/Garage Rock/Instrumental/Beat
The Atlantics
The Teddy Bear's Picnic Stomp
1989, LP, Comp, Canetoad Records, ,
Surf/Instrumental
Robert Allworth, David Miller
Where No Shadows Fall
1988, LP, Album, Jade Records, Jade Records,
The Sven Libaek Orchestra*
That's What Friends Are For
1986, LP, Album, ABC Records (3)
The Sven Libaek Orchestra*
The Music Of Lionel Richie Instrumentally
1985, Vinyl,
Sven Libaek Orchestra*
Love Is In The Air
1983, LP, Album, WEA,
Harry Robertson (3) With Alex Hood And Marion Henderson*
Whale Chasing Men: Songs of Whaling In Ice And Sun
1980
Fernando Sor - Jose Luis Gonzalez
20 Estudios Para Guitarra
1978, Cass, Album, Dol, CBS
Bryce Rohde Quartet
The Bryce Rohde Story Vol 2
1977, LP, Comp, 44 Records (2)
Jim Brumby
Strictly Australian
1977, LP, Album, M7, M7
David McKay
Bless This House
1976, LP, Album, M7
Tim Kersten
Classical Guitar Debut
1976, LP, Album, M7
Lester V. Coombs
Tea Break With Harry And Me And The Girls
1976, LP, Australian Country, ,
Country
David Gray
David Gray Sings...With The Sven Libaek Orchestra
1976
Paul & Colleen Trenwith
Fresh From The Country
1976, ,
Bluegrass
The Nolan-Buddle Quartet
The Odd Couple
1976
June Bronhill
June Bronhill At The Sydney Opera House
1976
Various
Spirit of 44
1975, LP, Comp, Gat, 44 Records (2),
Buster Noble
They Don't Write Songs Like They Used To
1975
Judy Bailey Quartet
I'm Gonna Try
1974, 7", Single, Philips
Frankie Davidson
A Generation Of Children's Hits
1974, LP, Comp, M7
Judy Stone
Would You Lay With Me In A Field Of Stone
1974
The Judy Bailey Quartet*
One Moment
1974
Liberty
Scripture Songs
1974
Bobbi Marchini
I Love You Lord
1972, 7", Single, Mono, Philips
Alex Hood
Me And My Friends
1971
Alex Hood
Songs While The Billy Boils
1970
Nonesuch
Ride The Wind / Roberto's Theme
1969
The Groop
Empty Words
1967
Lynne Randell
Heart
1966, 7", Single, CBS
Laurie Wade's Cavaliers
Greensleeves
1966, 7", CBS
The Pilgrims Five
Barbara Allen
1966, 7", CBS
The Groop
I'm Satisfied
1966, LP, Album, Mono, CBS
The Groop
The Best In Africa / Gloria
1966, 7", Single, CBS
Lynne Randell
Going Out Of My Head
1966, 7", Single, CBS
Col Nolan Soul Syndicate
Crazy Crochet
1966, LP, Album, Mono, CBS
Gary Shearston
We Are Going to Freedom
1966, 7", Single, CBS
Patsy Biscoe
The Voice Of Patsy Biscoe
1966, LP, Album, Mono, CBS
Col Nolan Soul Syndicate
Matilda / Phoenix Love Theme
1966, 7", Single, CBS
Gary Shearston
Sings His Songs
1966, LP, Mono, CBS
Sean & Sonja
Sometime Lovin'
1966, LP, Album, Mono, CBS,
The Jackson Kings
Watermelon Man
1966, 7", CBS
Anne & Jimmy Murphy
Island Of Dreams
1966, 7", Single, CBS
The Saints
El Torito
1966, 7", Single, CBS
Sean And Sonja*
You Rang
1966, 7", Single, CBS
Doug Ashdown
The Real Thing
1966, Vinyl, ,
Folk
Doug Ashdown
This Is Doug Ashdown
1966, Vinyl, ,
Folk
The Groop
The Groop
1966
The Jet Set (7) With Teina Millar
On Your Mark… Jet Set, Go-Go
1966
José Luis González*
Contemporary Guitar Music
1966
Judy Bailey
My Favourite Things
1965, LP, Mono, CBS, CBS
The Atlantics
Goldfinger
1965, 7", Single, CBS, ,
Surf
The Groop
Ol' Hound Dog / Cry, Cry Baby
1965, 7", CBS
The Groop
The Groop
1965, 7", EP, CBS
The Jackson Kings
Watch Your Step
1965, 7", Single, CBS
The Saints
It Ain't Fair
1965, 7", CBS, ,
Garage Rock
Laurie Wade's Cavaliers
To Win Your Love
1965, 7", CBS
The Jet Set
What Did The Man Say?
1965, 7", Single, CBS, ,
Garage Rock/Beat
Laurie Wade's Cavaliers
Say Hey / The Adventurer
1965, 7", Single, CBS
Tina Lawton
Tina Lawton
1965, LP, Album, Mono, CBS
Ray Price Quartet
America
1965, 7", Single, Mono, CBS
The Wesley Three
City Folk
1965, LP, Album, Mono, CBS
The Atlantics
Peter Gunn
1965, 7", Single, CBS
The Atlantics
Giant
1965, 7", Single, CBS
Gary Shearston
Australian Broadside
1965, 7", EP, CBS
The Saints
On A Winter Evening
1965, 7", CBS
Sandy Scott
I Saw You
1965, 7", Single, Promo, CBS
Bryce Rohde
Just Bryce!
1965, LP, Album, Mono, CBS
Sean & Sonja
A Very Good Year
1965, LP, Album, Mono, CBS
Diana Trask
Just For You
1965
Fernando Sor, José Luis González*
20 Studies For Guitar
1965
Gary Shearston
The Springtime It Brings On The Shearing (Traditional Australian Shearing Songs)
1965
Gary Shearston
Australian Broadside
1965, ,
Folk
Henry Lawson Spoken By Leonard Teale
His Life Story In His Own Verse
1965
Sandy Scott
Sandy Scott Sings
1964, 7", EP, Mono, CBS
Kenny Shane
I'm Glad
1964, 7", CBS
Johnny Rebb And The Atlantics
A Girl Named Sue
1964, 7", CBS
Sharon O'Brien
Reach Out For Me
1964, 7", CBS
Laurel Lea
Treasure Of Your Love
1964, 7", CBS
The D-Men
I Don't Know What To Do
1964, 7", CBS
The Atlantics
Teensville
1964, 7", Single, CBS
Gary Shearston
Songs Of Our Time
1964, LP, Album, Mono, CBS
The Telstars
Beatlemania
1964, 7", Single, CBS
Diana Trask
Jabbin Jabbin/Too Young
1964, 7", Single, Mono, CBS
Jerry J Wilder
I'll Never Let You Go
1964, 7", CBS
Ray Price Quartet
"Puff" And Others
1964, LP, Mono, CBS
Sharon O'Brien
Sings
1964, 7", EP, CBS
Sean And Sonja*
Tomorrow Is A Long Time
1964, 7", Single, CBS
The Saints
There Will Come A Time
1964, 7", CBS
The Silhouettes
Blue Streak
1964, 7", Mono, CBS
Judy Bailey
You & The Night & The Music
1964
The Atlantics
The Explosive Sound Of The Atlantics
1964
The Saints
Ski With The Saints
1964
The Atlantics
War Of The Worlds
1964
Leonard Teale, Andy Sundstrom
Travelling Down the Castlereagh
1964
Sean & Sonja
Sean & Sonja
1964
Gary Shearston
Folk Songs & Ballads Of Australia
1964
Jose Gonzalez*
Two Worlds Of The Classical Guitar
1964
Sandy Scott
The Light In Your Window
1963, 7", Single, CBS
The Atlantics
Moon Man
1963, 7", Single, CBS, ,
Surf
Johnny Rebb
Done Got Over It
1963, 7", CBS
Kelly Green
So What
1963, 7", CBS
Kenny Shane (2) And The Atlantics
Count Down Stomp
1963, 7", Single, CBS
The Telstars
Reef Ride
1963, 7", Single, CBS
Judy Cannon
Uptown
1963, 7", Single, CBS
Brian Myers Quartet
Draggin'
1963, 7", Single, CBS
Andy Sundstrom
Northern Territory
1963, 7", Mono, CBS
The Atlantics
Stompin' Time
1963, 7", EP, Mono, CBS
Bryce Rohde Quartet
Corners
1963, LP, Album, CBS
Andy Sundstrom
They're Dancing Now
1963, 7", CBS
Kelly Green
I'll Never Be The Same
1963, 7", CBS
Jerry J Wilder
Let's
1963, 7", CBS
Johnny Rebb
Seein' Is Believin'
1963, 7", Single, CBS
Margaret Day
Please Take My Hand
1963, 7", Single, CBS
Margaret Day
Mexican Carol
1963, 7", CBS
Tim Gaunt
Another Sleepless Night
1963, 7", CBS
Andy Sundstrom
Free Fall
1963, 7", Single, CBS
Ray Price Quartet
The History of Jazz
1963, LP, Album, Mono, CBS
Ray Price Quartet
One Day I Met An African
1963
The Atlantics
Bombora
1963
The Atlantics
Bombora
1963, Vinyl, ,
Surf
The Atlantics
Rumble And Run / The Wild Ones
1963
The Atlantics
Bombora / Greensleeves
1963, Vinyl, ,
Surf
The Atlantics
The Crusher
1963, Vinyl, ,
Surf
Leonard Teale, Andy Sundstrom
Songs Of The Sundowners
LP, Album, Mono, CBS
Ray Price Quartet, Plus 3
Puff (The Magic Dragon)
7", Single, Mono, CBS
Bryce Rohde
Para Ti (Just For You)
7", Single, CBS
Ray Price Quartet
Coming Home, Baby / Serenade To A Cuckoo
7", Single, CBS
Sharon O'Brien
Strange
7", Single, Smplr, CBS
Henry Lawson, Leonard Teale
Henry Lawson's Australia Spoken By Leonard Teale
LP, Mono, CBS
The Telstars
The Galloping Comedian
7", Single, CBS
Warren Williams
Breaking My Heart
7", Single, CBS
June Bronhill
June Bronhill At The Opera House
CD, Album, Broad Music
Sven Libaek Orchestra*
Pure Inspiration
Cass, Album, Gre, Telmak, Telmak
Yvonne Lau
First Light
CD, Fellowship Of Australian Composers
The Telstars
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
7", Single, CBS
The Atlantics With Johnny Rebb
The Atlantics With Johnny Rebb On Vocals: The Legendary JRA/RAMROD Sessions
José Luis González*
Spanish Guitar Music
Jose Luis Gonzalez
Classical Guitar
Judy Stone
In A Field Of Stone
1974
Sven Libaek And His Orchestra
The Orchestral Side Of Lionel Richie
1985, Vinyl,
Sven Libaek And His Orchestra
The Orchestral Side Of Neil Diamond
1983
Sven Libaek And His Orchestra
Solar Flares
1974
Sven Libaek And His Orchestra
My Thing
1970
Sven Libaek And His Orchestra
Australian Suite
1969, Vinyl,
Sven Libaek And His Orchestra
The Orchestral Side Of Billy Joel
LP, Album, Not On Label
The Windjammers
Sentimentaliteit
7", Single, Triola

APPEARANCES +


Action The Man
Dødsforelsket
2012, CDr, EP, Not On Label (Action The Man Self-released)
Sven Libaek & His Orchestra*
Misty Canyon / Soul Thing
2010, 7", Votary Records
Various
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (Original Soundtrack)
2004, CD, ,
Soundtrack/Rock & Roll/Experimental/Glam
Various
Aerien Voyage
2004, CD, ,
Disco/Jazz-Funk/Modal/Classic Rock
Various
White Martini
2004, ,
Downtempo
Various
Den Of Thieves - The Sound Of Eighteenth Street Lounge Music
2003, CD Digipak, ,
Acid Jazz/Downtempo/Future Jazz
Karminsky Experience Inc.*
The Power Of Suggestion
2003, CD, ,
Downtempo/Future Jazz/Trip Hop
Various
Maiden Voyage: A Wide Selection Of Grooves From Norway '66 - '76
2003, CD, ,
Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Experimental/Contemporary Jazz
Various
Music For Dancefloors: The Cream Of The Chappell Music Library Sessions
2001, CD, ,
Theme/Jazz-Funk
Various
Barry 7's Connectors
2001, 2x Vinyl, ,
Leftfield/Space-Age/Abstract/Experimental/Easy Listening
Wanderléa
Wanderléa Volume 2
2000, 2xCD, Comp, Columbia, CBS
The Penetrators (4) / The Space Cossacks
The Penetrators Meet The Space Cossacks
1997, 7", EP, Solamente Records
The Multitunes
Central Park
1980, LP, Peer International Library Limited
The Midnight Strings Orchestra
Reunited
1980, LP, Album, Excelsior
Robert Colman
My Tribute
1979
The Good Music Orchestra
Emotions
1978, Vinyl,
David Gray
Something Old Something New
1977
The Sven Libaek Concert Orchestra*
Sven Libaek Conducts His 38 Piece Orchestra
1975
Family
Postcard To Home
1974, LP, Album, M7, M7
Bobbi Marchini, Janice Slater, Terry Kaff, Mickey Leyton
Affluence
1974, 7", Single, Festival Records
Judy Stone
In A Field Of Stone
1974, Vinyl,
Judy Stone
Mare, Mare, Mare
1973, 7", M7
Various
4 Top Hits From England
1973, 7", EP, Young
Gerard Kennedy
Seasons Of Love
1972, LP, Album, Festival Records
Gerard Kennedy
Four Letter Words
1972, 7", Single, Festival Records
Doubloon
Go Anywhere
1972, ,
Soundtrack
Kerrie Biddell, Terry Kaff
Look (Every Day)
1971, 7", Single, Mono, Philips
The Atlantics
Great Surfing Sounds Of The Atlantics
1970, LP, Comp, Music For Pleasure, ,
Surf
Bruce Barry
Nice And Easy
1970, LP, Warner Bros. Records
Nonesuch
Ride The Wind Away
1969
TV Themes Orchestra
This Day Tonight Theme & Other Great Australian TV Themes
1968
Gary Shearston
Abreaction (On A Bitumen Road With Soft Edges)
1967
George Golla
The George Golla Guitar Plays ...On The Centre Line
1967
John Sangster
The Trip
1967
Wanderléa
É Tempo Do Amor
1965, 7", CBS, ,
Chanson/Vocal
Jose Luis Gonzalez
Portrait Of The Guitar
1964
Johnny Rebb
Anytime You Want Me
1961, 7", Coronet (2)
Morton Gould
Louis De Rochemont's Windjammer
1958, Vinyl, ,
Soundtrack
Terry Kaff And The In People
Merivale
7", Single, JAM Records (11)
Morton Gould
Windjammer
Muzzle Flash Radio
Sunday Service Volume 1
2020, CD, Mixed, A Night On Canopy,
Various
Rose Coral Gold (Psychedelic Surf, Baja Bugs & Sun-Spray Harmonies)
2020, CDr, Comp, WFMU
Various
A Life In The Sun
2016, 2xCD, Comp, Festival Records
Spaceghost* x Steve Sandwich
Late Feelings
2013, File, MP3, Mixed, 320, Not On Label (Space Ghost (2) Self-released)
Jonny Trunk Presents... Various
Now We Are Ten - A Decade Of Strange And Beautiful Music From Trunk Records
2007, CD, Album, Comp, Smplr, Trunk Records, Trunk Records, ,
Easy Listening/Soft Rock/Bossa Nova/Lounge/Smooth Jazz/Spoken Word/Exotica/Novelty/Fusion/Downtempo/Experimental
Mr. Flash
Monsieur Sexe
2005, CD, Comp, Ltd, Mixed, Ed Banger Records, ,
Easy Listening/Electro/Ambient
Various
Aerien Voyage
2004
Various
Respect Overdue Vol. 2 (Australian & New Zealand '70s Jazz, Funk, Soul & Soundtrack Music)
2000, CD, Comp, Creative Vibes
Various
More Than Music - Muzak
1979
Various
Activity/Travel/Dramatic
1974, LP, Standard Music Library
Various
Eastern Music - Activity/Travel
1973
Various
Summer Baby
Cass, Mixtape, Shahr Farang, ,
Synth-pop/Soundtrack/Breakbeat/Downtempo/Punk
Various
Buried Alive!! 2 (More Demented Teenage Fuzz From Down Under 1964-1968)
2019, Box, Comp, Unofficial + 6xCD, Comp, RM, Particles (2), ,
Beat/Psychedelic Rock/Garage Rock
Judy Bailey
You & The Night & The Music
2015
Various
Upside Down Volume One (Coloured Dreams From The Underworld)
2014
Leo Zero
White Light 59
2012, File, MP3, Mixed, Unofficial, 256, White Light Mixes, ,
Indie Rock/Alternative Rock/Disco/Ethereal/Soft Rock/House/Downtempo
Various
Dusty Fingers The Complete Collection
2008, DVD, Comp, Promo, Unofficial, MP3 + DVD, Comp, Pro, Strictly Breaks Records,
Various
Den Of Thieves - The Sound Of Eighteenth Street Lounge Music
2003, CD, ,
Acid Jazz/Downtempo/Future Jazz
Various
Dusty Fingers Volume Four
1998