Mark Spiro is an iconic American songwriter and an established award winning producer, recording artist, and accomplished musician, with a career that spans over two decades.
Among his many accomplishments are 45 Gold and Platinum Records, and nine solo albums. His songs and productions have been represented on records that have sold over 100 Million copies worldwide.
The “2+2 = 5: Best of + Rarities” compilation encompasses the best of Mark’s solo material starting from “Now Is Then, Then is Now”, originally released in 1996, until “It’s a Beautiful Life”, released in 2012. Also included are his songwriting collaborations with none other than Dann Huff (Giant), Michael Thomson (MTB), Jim Vallance (Bryan Adams), and Tim Pierce.
As a special treat for the discerning and passionate melodic rock fans, the album includes 13 unreleased songs which also includes collaborations with Dann Huff, Michael Thompson, Tim Pierce and Jason Derlatka.
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Born in Seattle, Mark moved to Hollywood where he met Jack White, an extremely successful and acclaimed German producer who was making his impact on the American music scene through his work with Laura Branigan, Stevie Woods, Anne Murray, David Hasselhoff, and more. He immediately recognized Mark’s enormous talent and brought him in as his general co-producer. In the span of three years, Jack cut more than 100 of Spiro’s songs for his various American and German artists.
It was at this time that Mark met German writer/producer, Harold Faltemeyer, best known for his songs ‘Axel F’ from the film, “Beverly Hills Cop”. Faltemeyer was a huge fan of Mark’s writing and production skills and asked him to write a song for a new film, “Top Gun”. Mark wrote the incredible ‘Mighty Wings’, recorded by Cheap Trick, for the film. Developing a reputation in the film industry for his soundtrack work, Mark wrote songs for such films as, “True Romance (“In Dreams” recorded by John Waite), “Selena” (“Only Love” recorded by Selena), and ”Music From Another Room” (“Day After Day” recorded by Julian Lennon). Mark’s songs have also been featured on several television series such as “One Tree Hill”, “Marker”, and “Fame”.
He is also recognized as one of the leading melodic rock songwriters in the United States, with songs recorded by such classic artists as Heart, Cheap Trick, Giant, Bad English, John Waite, Kansas, Reo Speedwagon, Winger, Mike Reno (LoverBoy), and Julian Lennon. In addition, he has written for multi-platinum country artist Lila McCann, and Latin artists, Luis Miguel and Emmanuel.
In addition, he has produced songs by Anne Murray, Laura Branigan, John Berry, Mike Reno (Loverboy), Maria Conchito Alonso, and a new artist, Ruby Summer for Lyric Street Records. Although he is best known for his melodic rock style, it is evident that Mark Spiro has the ability and talent to write for any style and genre of music.
Mark recorded and released his first solo album “In Stereo” in Germany in 1986. Shortly thereafter, Mark was signed to Interscope Records by Jimmy Iovine as a solo artist. Mark’s second solo album, “Care Of My Soul” was released in Japan, Australia, and Scandinavia in 1994; a unique pop/rock album with Mark’s special trademark of haunting melodies, creatively imaginative lyrics, and outstanding vocals.
1996 saw the release of “Now Is Then, Then Is Now” on Westcoast Records, which was a perfect melodic rock record that received unanimous acclaim in the European rock press for being one of the absolute finest releases that year.
Mark Spiro’s next two albums, “Devotion” and “The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of”, were released on the German label MTM Music and released throughout Europe and Scandinavia. His most recent albums, “King of Crows” (2003), and “Mighty Blue Ocean” (2005) were also released throughout Europe and Scandinavia.
Discography
Traveling Cowboys
Frontiers Records 2021
Tracks: Traveling Cowboys, Rolls Royce, VanderPump, Going, 7 Billion People, Someone Else, Kingdom Come, I Ain't Leaving, Between The Raindrops (Revisited), Dance Dance Dance, Feel Like Me, Let The Wind Decide, Nothing In Between Us, The Fisherman 3 (2020) & Still.
Musicians on the Traveling Cowboys album: Mark Spiro, Tim Pierce & Gia Sky.
2+2=5
Frontiers Records 2020
Tracks: CD1: All The Love We Kill, Wind On The Water, Better With A Broken Heart, Don’t Leave Me In Love, Vendetta, Through My Eyes, Mid Western Skies, My Devotion, Valdez, The Rain Came Tumblin’ Down, The Rhythm Of Your Soul & Can’t Take That Away (Stuff Version). CD2: I’ll Be There, King Of The Crows, When Winter Comes, It’s A Beautiful Life, Come Back To Me, Mighty Blue Ocean, Monster, Between The Raindrops, The Fisherman 3, Wheels May Rust, A Beautiful Mistake & Love Don’t Come Around Here. CD3: Take Your Time, Holding You, 24 Hours A Day, Whirling Dervish, Cry Me A River, Feels Like, Whenever I Remember, Run Like A River, Broken Home, Leave My Heart Alone, Anything To Find My Baby, When You Were Nothing & Screaming Like A Crow.
Musicians on the 2+2=5 album: Mark Spiro and others.
Care Of My Soul Vol.2
A Sun Hill Production 2012
Tracks: A Beautiful Mistake, Get Into the Going, Love Dont Come Around Here, Starlight, Miss Her Everywhere, Singing You Back to Me, Paper Dragons, Up in Flames, My Greatest Goodbye, Everything Is On Its Way & Say Your Prayers.
Musicians on the Care Of My Soul Vol.2 album: Mark Spiro and others.
Care Of My Soul Vol.1
A Sun Hill Production 2012
Tracks: Care of My Soul, One of the Reasons, King Arthur, Wheels May Rust, Drop in the Ocean, Between the Raindrops, The Fishermen 3, Women Be True, Wallflower Ranch, You Cant Take That Away, Interlude, Lately, Everything Changes, Hey Daisy & Encinitas.
Musicians on the Care Of My Soul Vol.1 album: Mark Spiro and others.
It's A Beautiful Life
AOR Heaven 2012
Tracks: It’s A Beautiful Life, I Know Who I Love, Come Back To Me, Love Struck Dumb, Go Another Mile, Dance The Lonely Spotlight, Might As Well Be Me, Brand New Beautiful Day, Dream Big Pray Hard & Everything I Do.
Musicians on the It's A Beautiful Life album: Mark Spiro and others.
Mighty Blue Ocean
Atenzia Records 2005
Tracks: Mighty Blue Ocean, Band of Angels, Monster, When She Cries, Envy Shade of Green, The Beautiful One, Bits and Pieces, Being in Your World, Perfect Wave, My Velocity & The Life that I Live.
Musicians on the Mighty Blue Ocean album: Mark Spiro and others.
King Of The Crows
Atenzia Records 2003
Tracks: King Of The Crows, Julia (The Sleeping Beauty), Grace, Everybody Needs, One Horse Town, After You, Cracked (What's It All Worth), When Winter Comes, Always, Just Another Freak, It's All About You & Why Wait For Love 'Til You Die.
Musicians on the King Of The Crown album: Mark Spiro, Christopher Bogan, Tim Pierce and others.
The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
MTM Music 1999
Tracks: I'll Be There, Love in a Western World, Can You Hear the Night, Fire and Water, Halflight, The Rhythm of Your Soul, Rain in Her Heart, Vendetta, Back to the Promised Land, Can't Take That Away, I Made It So, Pray for Rain & The Palm of Your Hand.
Musicians on the Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of album: Mark Spiro, Dann Huff, Tim Pierce, Michael Thompson and others.
Devotion
MTM Music 1997
Tracks: My Devotion, Rhythm Of You, The Rain Came Tumblin Down, Time Keeps Ticking, Love Is War, Kiss The World Away, Sunset City, Better With A Broken Heart, Campbell River Road, Valdez, Don't Leave Me In Love, Guardian Angel & Desert Bloom.
Musicians on the Devotion album: Mark Spiro, Dann Huff, Michael Thompson, Tim Pierce and others.
Now Is Then, Then Is Now
Westcoast Records 1996
Tracks: All The Love We Kill, English Channel, Stay Young, In The Dark, Around You, Wind On The Water, Son With The Walking Shoes, London Is Burning, Dancing With Einstein, Through My Eyes, Light In The Darkness & Mid Western Skies.
Musicians on the Now Is Then, Then Is Now album: Mark Spiro, Jamey Jaz, Tim Pierce, Michael Thompson and others.
Now Is Then, Then Is Now
Mark Spiro Music 1996
Tracks: All The Love We Kill, English Channel, Stay Young, In The Dark, Around You, Wind On The Water, Son With The Walking Shoes, London Is Burning, Dancing With Einstein, Through My Eyes, Light In The Darkness & Mid Western Skies.
Musicians on the Now Is Then, Then Is Now album: Mark Spiro, Jamey Jaz, Tim Pierce, Michael Thompson and others.
Care Of My Soul
Empire Records 1994
Tracks: Care Of My Soul, One Of The Reasons, King Arthur, Drop In The Ocean, Wheels May Rust, Woman Be True, The Fishermen 3, You Can’t Take That Away, [uncredited instrumental], Between The Raindrops, Wallflower Ranch, Lately & Everything Changes.
Musicians on the Care Of My Soul album: Mark Spiro, Tim Pierce, Jimmy Keegan, Kevin Wyatt, Jamey Jazz, Bogan, Naimeh Heath, Lua Crofts, Martika, Leslie Spiro, Kelly Sachs, Sandy Simmons, Dean Parks, Frank Marocco, Armen Ksajikian, Ron Kalina, Pete Candoli, Michael Fisher, Julian Lennon and others.
In Stereo
Ariola Records 1986
Tracks: The Valley Of Love, Oh Rebecca, In Stereo, Tenderness, Maybe It's Time, Room In Your Heart, One For You, One For Me, Winds Of Change, Uh Oh & Morocco.
Musicians to the In Stereo album: Mark Spiro and others.