Reg Livermore

with the baxter funt band& the reginas

Baxter Funt Mike WadeGreg BushellJamie McKinleyFrank GaleaGreg Henson

Reginas Shayna KarunJennie CullenJacqueline Godden

Arrangements and Musical Direction Mike Wade

The ReginasSupervised by Jamie McKinley

Reg Livermore has an official website here, active May 2013, which provides many details about him, along with clips and a store here for various Livemore related works including the CD of Betty Blokk-Buster Follies.

Mike Wade was a guitarist who worked with Reg Livermore on Jesus Christ Superstar. Trove provides a short biography for him here:

Musician, composer, arranger, musical director and music engraver, Michael Wade was born in Sydney, NSW, on 17 April 1947. In 1960 he co-founded the pop music band "The Ramblers", which marked the commencement of a career as a professional musician that spanned nearly four decades. In 1963, the Ramblers became "The Midnighters" and signed their first recording contract. RCA released the band's first single "Goofy foot", written by Michael, that year. Between 1965 and 1968, the band's basic line-up performed as "Climax". In 1972, Michael's exceptional technical abilities as a guitarist resulted in his appointment to the Australian production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" (JCS). In 1974, the rhythm section of the band he led for JCS formed itself into the band, "Baxter Funt". Baxter Funt regularly backed Marcia Hines at the start of her career and provided musical backing for Reg Livermore's stage shows, such as "Betty Blockbuster Follies".When his band broke up in 1980, the basic line-up could be traced back to the Ramblers of the early 1960s. In the late 1970s, Michael was musical director, arranger and conductor for the revival of JCS and also for the revival of the stage show "Hair". During the 1980s he operated his own studio and worked as a sheet music arranger-engraver. His use of computer music in the rock opera "Rasputin" made him an Australian pioneer in the field. In the 1990s, he worked as arranger, composer and musical director for various corporate events and in 2001 began writing semi-autobiographical fiction.

There is also a link to an interview conducted with Wade covering the following areas:

Wade speaks his memories of childhood in Sydney; the absence of his father and frequent lengthy periods of absence of his mother; his grandmother; the family's standard of living; his childhood imagination and games; schooling; stepfather; radio as a "savior"; his attraction to popular music; guitar playing; formation in 1960 of band "The Ramblers"; the Galea family of Sydney who took him in; musical influences; the formation of "The Midnighters" (1963); recording for RCA; song-writing; "Goofy foot" (surfie song, 1963); drugs; Johnny O'Keefe; "Climax" band (1965-68); Kings Cross (1960s); performing for US Army in Vietnam (1968-69); observations of changes in music styles, venues and audiences over the years; work for "Jesus Christ Superstar" rock opera (1972); formation of "Baxter Funt" band; Marcia Hines; Reg Livermore; marriages and children; John English; revival of Jesus Christ superstar" and "Hair" (1977-78); writing of hit song "Hot Town" (1979); establishment of studio at Bondi (1980s).Wade speaks of the music industry; sheet music engraving; computer music; work on musicals "Rasputin" and "Nunsense"; attitude to various musical genres; attitude to censorship; interest in numerology; involvement in corporate events; current situation in life and commitment to semi-autobiographical fictional writing.

(Below: Mike Wade in The Midnighters, with Frank Galea, Brian Freeman and Bob Travers).

(Below: Mike Wade, lead guitar on the left, with Frank Galea bass, Brian Freeman on drums, Terry Martyr on guitar and unknown piano player, in The Midnighters. More details here).

An LP offering selections from the movie soundtrack as an LP was released in 1976 by Festival Records:

LP (Stereo) Festival L-3597. 1976 Gatefold (CD D 19084 1992)

selections from the movie soundtrack ofBetty Blokk-Buster Follies

Starring Reg Livermore, featuring The Baxter Funt Band and The ReginasBaxter Funt: Mike Wade, Greg Bushell, Jamie McKinley, Frank Galea, Greg Henson. Reginas: Shayna Karlin, Jennie Cullen, Jacqueline Godden. Reginas Supervised by Jamie McKinley Musical Arrangements: Mike Wade Executive Producer: Eric Dare. Produced & Directed by Doug Livermore

Recorded live - Bijou Theatre, Balmain, Sydney, NSW 1976 Livermore Live Pty. Ltd.

Side 1:

1. Family Of Man (Williams - Conrad) (Rondor/Control) 2. Money Money (Ebb - Kander) (Castle)3. Captain Jack (Joel) (Chappell)4. Matrimony (O’Sullivan) (April) 5. Long Tall Glasses (Lyrics: Leo Sayer, Music: David Courtney)(Festival)6. Walk on the Wild Side (Reed) (Associated)

Side 2:

1. Is That All There Is (Leiber-Stoller) (Leiber-Stoller)2. Ticking (John - Taupin) (Leeds)3. Celluloid Heroes (R. Davies) (Intersong)4. The Show Must Go On (L. Sayer - D. Courtney) (Festival)5. Train (Lyrics: Leo Sayer, Music: David Courtney (Festival)

The song Celluloid Heroes was also released, taken from the two record set:

45 (Stereo) Festival K-6154, 1975Produced by Gerry Stevens and Baxter FuntRecorded at Festival's Studio 24, Sydney1975 Livermore Live Pty. Ltd.

Side A:Celluloid Heroes (3.50) (Ray Davies) Intersong Vocal: Reg Livermore

Side B:Matrimony (2.49) (G. O'Sullivan) (April) Vocal: Reg Livermore

A further 45 was released in 1976:

45 (Stereo) Festival K-6502 1976Recorded live at the Bijou Theatre, Balmain, Sydney NSW.1976 Livermore Live Pty. Ltd.

Side A: Is That All There Is (3:14) (Leiber - Stoller) (Leiber - Stoller) Vocal: Reg Livermore.Side B: Ticking (6:50) (Elton John - Bernie Taupin) (Leeds) Vocal: Reg Livermore.

A compilation LP also featured material from the show:

LP Festival L37156 1976

The Best of Reg Livermore1975-80 Livermore Nominees P/L Vocals: Reg Livermore

Side 1 Track 1: Captain Jack (7.26) (Billy Joel) Chappell)Side 2 Track 6: Matrimony (3.12) (G. O'Sullivan) (April)Side 2 Track 5: Celluloid Heroes (5.39) (Ray Davies) (Intersong)Side 2 Track 6: The Show Must Go On (5.38) (Leo Sayer - David Courtney) (Festival)

A CD of the show was released in 2010 on Possum Records:

1. Cabaret - Tiller Girls2. Family Of Man3. Money4. Voice Of Experience5. Hello In There6. Captain Jack7. Last Cigarette8. Matrimony9. What Makes A Man A Man10. Long Tall Glasses11. The Entertainer12. Is That All There Is13. Walk On The Wildside14. Train15. Travelling Prayer16. Ticking17. Celluloid Heroes18. Silverbird19. The Show Must Go On20. S.O.L.O.

The original stage show was released on a double album by Festival in 1975:

LP 1:1. Tiller Girls2. Family Of Man3. Money, Money4. Voice of Experience5. Hello In There

6. Captain Jack7. Last Cigarette8. Matrimony9. A Little Bit Of Love

LP 2:1. What Makes A Man A Man2. Long Tall Glasses3. The Entertainer4. Festival Of Light5. Walk On The Wild Side6. Southern Fried

7. Train8. Travelling Prayer9. Celluloid Heroes10. Silverbird11. The Show Must Go On12. You Are Yourself13. S.O.L.O