Mark Holden’s lifetime in showbusiness leads to ‘Now & Then & Shirley MacLaine’

28 August 2026

After giving us a glimpse at his new album with the release of two singles, Mark Holden’s Now & Then & Shirley MacLaine is now available. It is Mark’s first full-length album in decades.

Mark first caught the public eye in 1974. Now, more than fifty years later, the former teen heartthrob, hit songwriter, producer and Idol judge has re-emerged with an album of new and re-imagined songs.

The clues to the album’s contents are all in the title: Now refers to Mark’s recent creative burst, inspired by reconnections with old friends and spurred on by new cross-cultural and generational collaboration. Then, on the other hand, it applies to the reimagining of four unheard songs Mark penned decades ago in his working-songwriter days. As for Shirley MacLaine, well, he conjured her up on a trip to the USA via Hawaii.

Mark has released two original singles from the album to date: Every Little Thing and Shirley MacLaine. Next to come is a cover of Tom Traubert’s Blues (Waltzing Matilda), which is a tribute to Matilda Bee Britvan who was one of 15 people who lost their lives on the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach.

Mark grappled with the immensity of the tragedy along with millions of Australians. He found himself listening to Tom Waits’ song Tom Traubert’s Blues and its chorus, Waltzing Matilda, and ‘became’ Tom Traubert at Bondi. After receiving support and appreciation from her family in helping preserve Matilda’s legacy, the track was laid down.

Tom Traubert’s Blues (Waltzing Matilda)