THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW ORIG AUST 1974 OZ G/F LP M- COND

	A$		40
	$		26

Thank you for your interest in my auction items.
You are bidding on an Australian released 12" 33 & 1/3 rpm vinyl album of:-

THE ORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN CAST RECORDING titled "THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW".  See Biography below for full details of performers etc.

Released in 1974 on FESTIVAL RECORDS Australia.
Catalogue number L 35231. 
 
Track listing Side One is:- 
1. "Science Fiction" - Kate Fitzpatrick [Richard O'Brien] 3:23 minutes.
2. "Wedding Song" - John Paramor/Jane Harders [R O'Brien] 2:17 minutes.
3. "Over At The Frankenstein Place" - Piero Von Arnim/Jane Harders/Sal Sharah [R O'Brien] 3:03 minutes.
4. "Sweet Transvestite" - Reg Livermore/John Paramor [R O'Brien] 3:06 minutes.
5. "Time Warp" - Sal Sharah/Kate Fitzpatrck/Maureen Elkner/Arthur Dignam [R O'Brien] 3:12 minutes.
6. "The Sword Of Damocles" - Graham Matters/Arthur Dignam [R O'Brien] 2:08 minutes.
7. "Charles Atlas Song" - Reg Livermore [R O'Brien] 2:00 minutes.
8. "Whatever Happened To Saturday Night" - Davie Cameron [R O'Brien] 2:06 minutes.

Track listing Side Two is:-
1. "Touch A Touch Me" - Jane Harders/Maureen Elkner/Julie McGregor [R O'Brien] 2:19 minutes.
2. "Once In A While" - John Paramor/M Elkner/J McGregor [R O'Brien] 2:53 minutes.
3. "Eddie's Teddy" - David Cameron/Arthur Dignam/Reg Livermore/Jane Harders [R O'Brien] 3:23 minutes.
4. "Planet Schmanet Janet" - Reg Livermore/Jane Harders [R O'Brien] 1:10 minutes.
5 (a). "It Was Great When It All Began" - M Elkner/G Matters/J Paramor/J Harders/R Livermore/D Cameron/S Sharah. 5 (b) "I'm Going Home" - Reg Livermore [R O'Brien] 9:26 minutes.
6. "Super Heroes" - John Paramor/Jane Harders/Arthur Dignam [R O'Brien] 2:36 minutes.

Performers: Frank-n-Furter - Reg Livermore, Brad - John Paramor, Janet - Jane Harders, Riff Raff - Sal Sharah, Magenta/Usherette - Kate Fitzpatrick, Columbia - Maureen Elkner, Rocky Horror - Graham Matters,  Eddie - David Cameron, Narrator - Arthur Dignam. 

Musicians: Jamie McKinley [Piano], Greg Henson [Drums], Roy Ritchie [Guitar & Mellotron], Ken Firth [Bass guitar], Geoff Oakes [Saxaphone]. 

Gatefold album cover is in excellent like new condition, has the song lyrics printed inside along with details of the performers and musicians.
Vinyl album is in excellent like new condition.  Labels nice and clean, blue background with black lettering & silver logo.

POSTAGE & PAYMENT DETAILS

Overseas buyers to pay via PayPal in Au$'s only.
Australian buyers to pay by direct deposit to bank account, PayPal in Au$'s only or Aust Post Money Order.   Please note I do not accept cheques.

Postage, packaging and handling charges for Overseas purchasers are $19 for Asia/Japan, $22 for Canada/USA [see not below], $25 for UK/Europe for first class airmail and $10 for Australia.

US BIDDERS PLEASE NOTE:  AVIATION SECURITY SURCHARGE!

As of 22 November 2010 any parcels to the US weighing over 453 grams will attract an extra Australia Post charge of Au$9.00.

This is apparently to offset the costs of extra aviation security checks and is unavoidable.

Item will be posted in a commercially made cardboard LP mailing box.

Multiple purchases can be combined to reduce overall postage costs.  

Please note that I obtain Australia Post receipts for all items posted and I am happy to provide buyers with a scanned copy of the receipt if requested.

Accordingly I do not accept responsibility for items once they have been handed over to Australia Post for delivery. 

I am happy to send items registered or insured at the buyers cost.   Please advise if you require this service and I will include the cost details in the invoice.

Good luck with your bidding, please check my listing for similar items. 

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The Rocky Horror Show

Jim Sharman's success with the original Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar led to an invitation to direct the first London stage production, and it was during the London run of Superstar that he met Richard O'Brien, who had played Herod for just one performance. O'Brien wished to play Herod as Elvis, but quit Superstar when the producers asked him to tap-dance. While unemployed, O'Brien worked on a new rock musical with a rough-draft title of "Rock Horroar."

While working together at the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs on a production of Sam Shepard's The Unseen Hand, O'Brien played Sharman some of the songs he had written and they began to flesh out the concept for the show. Sharman brought in fellow Australians Nell Campbell, a.k.a. 'Little Nell,' and longtime production designer Brian Thomson, who had designed his productions of Hair and Superstar. Costume designer Sue Blane and musical director Richard Hartley rounded out the original creative team.

The musical went into rehearsals with the working title "They Came from Denton High," which was changed just before previews at Sharman's suggestion to The Rocky Horror Show.

After two previews, The Rocky Horror Show premiered at the 63-seat Theatre Upstairs on 19 June 1973 and ran until 20 July 1973. It had a running-time of only 70 minutes as it did not include the songs, 'Charles Atlas Song' (and its reprise) & 'Eddie's Teddy', and played twice-nightly at 9 pm & 11 pm. These 'missing' songs were added upon the transfer to The Classic Cinema where the schedule became a more regular 8 performances per week (Two shows on Friday & Saturday). The show continued to be performed without an interval.

Australian productions

Australia was the first country to mount a production of The Rocky Horror Show after Great Britain and the USA. Since then, the show has been performed more frequently in Australia than anywhere else in the world. With numerous successive revivals and long-running national tours, the show seemed to run almost continuously in Australia from 1974 to 1998.

The original Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show premiered in Sydney on 15 April 1974, at the New Arts Cinema, Glebe. The production included staff and cast members who had worked on both Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, including Reg Livermore as Frank N. Furter, director Jim Sharman, designer Brian Thomson and producer-promoter Harry M. Miller. Kate Fitzpatrick starred as Usherette/Magenta, David Cameron as Eddie, and Graham Matters as Rocky. John Paramor and Jane Harders starred as Brad and Janet.

After 18 months in Sydney, the show moved to Melbourne, where it opened at the Regent Palace Theatre (in the suburb of Fitzroy) in October 1975. Sal Sharah, who played Riff-Raff, was the only member of the original Sydney cast to reprise his role in Melbourne. The Melbourne production, directed by Roland Roccheccioli, otherwise featured Max Phipps as Frank N. Furter, Gregory Apps as Brad, Paula Maxwell as Janet, Tommy Dysart as the Narrator and Robyn Moase as Magenta. It ran for another 18 months, finally closing on May 1977. During that time, there were a number of cast replacements, including Stephen Clarke as Brad, Diana Greentree as Janet and Joan Brockenshire (Mrs Tommy Dysart) as Magenta.

The show then transferred to Adelaide in South Australia, where it opened on 12 August 1977. Dysart, Brockenshire and Greentree reprised their roles from the Melbourne production, with Tony Preece as Brad, Keith Reid as Riff-Raff and Shane Bourne as Rocky. Frank N. Furter was initially played by Darrell Hilton, who was replaced after a few days by Max Phipps and then, several weeks later, by Jon Finlayson. The Adelaide production was not as successful as the two previous ones, and closed after only two months.

Australia's first regional production was mounted less than a year later by the Riverina Trucking Company, a theatre company based in Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. Opened on 5 August 1978, this production ran for a limited season of three weeks. It was directed by Terry O'Connell, who also played the role Frank N. Furter. In July 1981, the same company mounted a second production of the show, with O'Connell in the lead role and few other members of the earlier cast.

Towards the end of 1981, following the publicity surrounding the film Shock Treatment, a new Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show was planned, with the involvement of the show's original designer, Brian Thomson. Produced by Wilton Morely and directed by the Japanese-Canadian choreographer/director David Toguri, the revival opened in Sydney on 6 October 1981. Frank N. Furter was played by Englishman Daniel Abineri who had previously played the role in the first British tour in 1979 and for a year in the West End in 1980. The rest of the cast was filled by local film and TV actors including Antoinette Byron as Janet, Luz Yeomans as Magenta, Jay Hackett as Rocky, Steve J. Spears as Eddie/Dr Scott and Stuart Wagstaff as the Narrator. The production (which spawned a 'mini' cast LP of four songs) transferred to Melbourne in January 1982 with most of the same cast. New additions included punk-cabaret artist Ignatius Jones as Eddie/Dr Scott, and former London cast member Perry Bedden reprising his role as Riff-Raff. For three weeks in February, Stuart Wagstaff was replaced by "special guest narrator", Ian "Molly" Meldrum. During the Adelaide leg of the tour, the Narrator was played by Noel Ferrier.

Wilton Morley revived the show in 1984 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the original Australian production, and cast the show's original Frank N. Furter, Reg Livermore (then 45 years old) in the same role. This production was directed by former Frank Daniel Abineri, with Stuart Wagstaff again as the narrator. The remaining cast included Wayne Pygram, who had played Rocky in the Riverina Trucking Company production back in 1978, and American actress Natalie Moscoe as Magenta.

In 1985, the revival opened in Adelaide, where the original show had flopped back in 1977. The cast included Graham Matters (who had played Rocky in the original 1974 Australian production), Maria Mercedes, Glen Shorrock and popular TV stars Victoria Nicholls and Ken James.

Morley's production was re-launched yet again in 1986, with Daniel Abineri both as director and in the lead role of Frank N. Furter This time, the tour commenced in New Zealand, where its cast included local actors Andrew Binns as Brad, Ann Wilson as Janet, Andrea Cunningham as Magenta/The Usherette Trixie, Rachel King as Columbia and a young Russell Crowe as Eddie/Dr Scott. For a brief stint, former New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon appeared as the Narrator. The production then toured Australia for several years, during which time the narrator was variously played by Gordon Chater, Stuart Wagstaff and others. The production ended with a second New Zealand tour, which was directed by Terry O'Connell (late of the Riverina Trucking Company productions) with Simon Westaway (who had previously played Brad in the Australian tour) as Frank N. Furter. The rest of the cast mainly comprised New Zealand talent, including actor/director John Banas and comedian Billy T James alternating as the Narrator.

In 1992, a new production was launched by producer Paul Dainty (in conjunction with a local radio station) under the title The New Rocky Horror Show. Directed and designed by Nigel Triffit, this production premiered in Melbourne on 2 July 1992. The cast consisted of local TV actors and comedians, headed by Craig McLachlan as Frank N. Furter, with Gina Riley as Janet, Peter Rowsthorn as Riff-Raff, Wilbur Wilde as Eddie/Dr Scott, and Red Symons as the Narrator. The original Brad, comedian Stephen Kearney (formerly of stand-up duo Los Trios Ringbarkus), was later replaced by Glenn Butcher. A cast album was recorded, which included, as a bonus track, a special version of "The Time Warp" performed by the entire cast. This album was produced and arranged by former Sherbet band member Garth Porter, who had also been involved with Craig McLachlan's recent solo recording career.

With a million-dollar stage set and a cast full of celebrities, this, like previous productions, continued on tour for several years. Craig McLachlan was replaced in the role of Frank N. Furter by soap actor Marcus Graham. During 1996-97, the production toured Adelaide and Hong Kong, with a cast that included former Boom Crash Opera lead singer Dale Ryder as Frank N. Furter and comedian George Kapiniaris as Riff-Raff.

In 1998, Paul Dainty launched another production of The New Rocky Horror Show to mark to 25th anniversary of the original London production. This opened at the Star City Casino in Sydney on 29 July 1998. Several members of the 1992 cast reprised their roles, including Glenn Butcher as Brad, Peter Rowsthorn as Riff-Raff, Wilbur Wilde as Eddie/Dr Scott, and Red Symons as the Narrator. Frank N. Furter was played by comedian Tim Ferguson, with Tottie Goldsmith as Janet and ex-Gladiator Ron Reeve as Rocky. During the run, MOR crooner Kamahl appeared as a guest narrator, and New Zealand-born actor Jay Laga'aia as a guest Eddie/Dr Scott.

In November 2004, a special charity performance of The Rocky Horror Show was performed at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, with a cast made up almost entitrely of members of the popular TV soap Neighbours. In a world first, the role of Frank N. Furter was performed by a woman - in this case, Maria Mercedes, who was then playing Lucia Cammeniti in Neighbours. A musical theatre veteran, Mercedes has previously appeared in the Adelaide production of The Rocky Horror Show back in 1985.

'A brand spanking new production' of "Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show" premiered at Sydney's Star City Casino in the brand new Star Theatre on 12 February 2008. Ironically, the show opened a week after the long-running audience participation screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show was closed down by Sydney's George Street Cinemas due to poor audience numbers. The cast of the stage production includes iOTA as Frank N. Furter, Paul Capsis as Riff Raff, Tamsin Carroll as Magenta/The Usherette, Sharon Millerchip as Columbia, Michael Cormick as Eddie/Dr. Scott, Simon Farrow as Rocky, Andrew Bevis as Brad, Kellie Rhode as Janet and John Waters as The Narrator.

The production moved on to Melbourne's Comedy Theatre, where it opened on 18 September 2008. The role of the Narrator was played by Derryn Hinch, although Gretel Killeen subsequently appeared as a 'guest narrator' for ten days in November. On 20 November, a special performance was held that included popular radio personalities Jo Stanley and Matt Tilley (of The Matt and Jo Show), Hamish Blake and Andy Lee (aka comedy duo Hamish & Andy), Adam Richard and Troy Ellis. Following the end of the Melbourne season, the production embarked upon a national tour, taking in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.