Latest Press Release

Internationally acclaimed, multi award winning singer/songwriter Clelia Adams has been an integral part of the very fabric of the Australian country music scene since l975 as session singer on thousands of tracks recorded in Tamworth studios for 25 years. 

Clelia’s Classic Hits traces her solo musical journey beginning with 'Bring It On' in 2000, 'Heartbeat Highway' 2004, 'Wildflowers' 2008 and 'River Valley Dreaming' in 2011. Her music had been embraced by the international country music community and saw her become the darling of the European, UK and Australian country music charts with each successive album. 

Classic Hits is a collection of 22 of Clelia’s Top 5/10 smash hits on Australian, European, UK & US charts over her stellar international recording career spanning 16 years. This is a “must have” album for every country music aficionado’s music library. Recorded and produced by Stuart French and the A Team, this is timeless, universal and classic country music.

Click to download a hi res version. Photo by Lyn McCarthy

River Valley Dreaming, Clelia Adams’ sixth studio album, is undoubtedly her finest work to date. Just like a vintage Italian wine, her distinctive voice and songwriting has matured and Clelia shines in her artistry.

This album contains 14 new songs which accurately reflect the road along which this captivating entertainer has travelled to achieve international acclaim.

Once again, under the guidance of her award-winning producer Stuie French, Clelia has managed to come up with a stunning combination of finely-crafted originals and surprisingly different covers that she makes all her own.

Eight of the disc’s 14 tracks come from Clelia’s pen and cover some familiar, yet interestingly varied themes. Among the original collection is a train song, a spaghetti western, a yodel, a reflection, some divine intervention, a romp around the farm, a nature walk and a love song that’s more autobiographical than not.

The carefully chosen covers take you from the streets of Tamworth during festival time to Clelia’s country and rock inspirations, such as Hank Williams, Randy Travis, Jean Shepherd and right back to Italy, closing with the piece de resistance – La Paloma, sung in her native tongue.

This music has international appeal, almost as much as the fiercely independent singer-songwriter has herself.

From Clelia’s humble beginnings in 1975 singing on sessions at the historic Hadley Studio in Tamworth on literally hundreds of recordings, to her latest global accolade, winning the Production of the Year in the 2010 European Country Music Awards for her 2008 album, Wildflowers – it’s been an amazing adventure, with many a twist and turn.

There’s a lot to cover in a career that spans more than three decades, and what better way to do that than to offer a bonus, 18-track CD, from Clelia’s extensive archives.

You will hear where it all began, with songs from the award-winning gospel album, Angel Band, in 1985, through to Clelia’s underexposed 1996 release, Fine Company, with its rootsy rhythm ’n’ country blues flavour. Soak up the classic country of Bring It On (2001) and TIARA winner Heartbeat Highway (2004), to the multiple award-winning delights of Wildflowers, her 2008 release.

This is a true career celebration, taking the listener from her former Tamworth home to her new life on the banks of the beautiful Brunswick River on the NSW North Coast.

Come celebrate the journey. Do some River Valley Dreaming of your own as you listen …

For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Clelia

Release created in Tamworth by Anna Rose Media Solutions for and on behalf of Clelia Adams

Gianluca Sitta (www.planetcountry.it) Italy, July 2017

She moved to Australia from Italy at the age of four, Clelia helped create what is now known the world over as "The Australian Country Music Scene". A true pioneer of country music, she is part of that musical genre that sees Judy Stone, Anne Kirkpatrick and Tania Kernaghan as some of the most emblematic artists. Clelia's music stems from the Anglo-Saxon folk music but also from the culture of her home country Italy, as heard in her song "La Paloma", a traditional song that brings this "River Valley Dreaming" to an end, which Clelia sings in Italian.

Her sixth studio album, this RVD has 14 songs ranging from boogie to yodeling through to rock and roll and honky tonk. There are, in addition to the previously mentioned "La Paloma", more profound references to Italy, a country which Clelia obviously loves very much. Just think of "Italian Cowgirl":

"I don't need to sing opera, don't fancy life in Rome, Florence or Venice, or a Riviera home, but Milan still has my number, it's all about those shoes, but this land is in my blood and I don't have to choose. Stories of the wild outback always fascinated me, the billabongs will have to wait, there's lasagna for tea. If bush tuckers all they got, sorry Slim I must decline, mum's bolognaise is in the pot, so thanks but I'll be fine."

The third track of the CD, where the artist is divided between the past, represented by our country (Italy) and the present, life in the outback.

Author of almost 14 songs on this CD, Clelia also does some covers. A great version of Hank Williams' "Baby We're Really In Love". Rounded off with a second CD entitled "The Archives", which contains some of Clelia's favourite songs since l985.

I personally think "River Valley Dreaming" is a fun album, sung perfectly by a wonderful voice that fully enhances the arrangements, very traditional and very country. I would also like to point out the extensive use of the steel guitar in almost all the songs, and as we know, only the steel guitar is able to capture the true soul of country music.

An artist of great sensibility and values, Clelia has confirmed herself with "River Valley Dreaming" as one of the great personalities of the country music scene "Down Under". Great job Italian Cowgirl!

 

Maverick Magazine UK, Russell Hill,  March 2012


Hailing from Australia, why this artist isn't widely known in the UK is criminal. Having started her career in the late 60's, Clelia has developed an authentic sound which wouldn't be out of place if she toured alongside Elizabeth Cook or Todd Snider. Backed by superb pedal steel playing on many songs, this record should see her gaining plaudits from around the world. The album is a mixure of songs which inspired her such as Hank's "Baby We're Really In Love". Also featured is original material such as "Rainbird Yodel". With spine-tingling Dobro, the song has Clelia yodeling. The art of yodeling hasn't appeared in contemporary mainstream records, and this track is a breath of fresh air.

Also provided along with this remarkable album is a bonus disc of 18 tunes which is full archive material dating back to l985. When that disc and the main record is listened soon after, it showcases the evolution of a superb artist. Long may Clelia continue to release music like this.

Radio Ceranusco Stereo, ITALY, Paola Zara TOP 10 ALBUMS, March 2012

1. JIM LAUDERDALE: Reason and Rhyme (Sugar Hill)
2. TARA NEVINS: Wood and Stone (Sugar Hill)
3. VINCE GILL: Guitar Slinger (MCA Nashville)
4. EMMYLOU HARRIS: Hard Bargain (Nonesuch)
5. LEVON HELM: Ramble at the Ryman (Vanguard)
6. CLELIA ADAMS: River Valley Dreaming (Independent)
7. RICHARD D. HENRY: A Long Way From Home (Poetman Rec)
8. MICHAEL JONATON: Front Porch (Poetmans Rec)
9. GILLIAN WELCH: The Harrow and the Harvest (Acony Rec)
10. MERLE HAGGARD: Working in Tennessee (Sugar Hill)

Bernard Boyat - Sur La Route de Memphis No 106, March, 2012.


We have spoken of this Australian singer/songwriter at the release of her previous album Wildflowers, 3 years ago. The new album River Valley Dreaming, a double CD, again produced by guitarist Stuart French, has her new songs, including 8 originals. The other, the Archvies, an anthology of the past, giving fans a taste of her previous work.

Clelia's new music has her usual influences, tradition country, honky tonk, hillbilly, tex mex, & rock n roll from the fifties. Highlights are the opening track, train song River Valley Express, a beautiful waltz Rainbird Yodel, superb hillbilly boogie of Hometown Boogie, ballad Golden Butterflies & 50's rocker Jeopardy.
As an extra bonus the 18 track Archives includes the hillbilly hop When The Man Said, the fine fifties song Never Let Me Go, Find My Love, another caribbean feel, the superb Just Because by Lloyd Price has been given new life, the slow walts Curious Astray, the country rock Heartbeat Highway and more.

Jon Wolfe - Capital News, Australia, January 2012

If the saying "success breeds success" is a truism, then Clelia Adams sixth studio album is abundant proof of this award winning artist's talent. Again produced by Stuie French, this album is the high point in a career that spans three decades, and like that good "home-made" Italian wine that she mentions in The Italian Cowgirl, she just gets better with age.

From the well-chosen covers like Hank's Baby We're Really In Love to originals like her own Rainbird Yodel or Hometown Boogie, Clelia shows why she has always been regarded as a singer's singer and she socks that fact home on songs like River Valley Express, Peel Street Buskers Lament and the moving version of La Paloma sung in her native Italian. There's plenty of country chutspah and something so pleasantly original in a most traditional way with any Clelia recordings, and it's all there in spades. Couple this with a second CD that brings together 18 wonderful reminders of her past catalogue and you can't go wrong.

Rosie Adsett - Country Update, Australia, December 2011

Clelia has produced another wonderful 14 track album with Stuie French and her sixth and latest CD. It's accompanied by an 18 song anthology The Archives, revising her  wealth of recording history dating back to early recordings under her own name in l985. River Valley Dreaming has 8 self-penned songs convering traditional country styles  to swing, but always very Australian and reflecting her northern NSW home base. The beautiful "Golden Butterflies" is a fine example of this; a cross between the Great Smoky Mountains and the New England Range. Clelia's Italian Cowgirl is another fine song that validates country music's globalisation. Well, actually there is one that doesn't fall in that characterisation...the last track, revisiting the Italian Cowgirl image on an earlier song on the album, is in her native Italian tongue, La Paloma. One of my favourites is the witty comedy of the Peel Street Busker's Lament...the pot pouri of Festival time music expression.

John Butcher - Bay FM 102.8 & Forest FM, Bournmouth, UK, Nov 30, 2011

Many thanks for River Valley Dreaming which arrived this morning and I have listened twice so far. The cover notes say it is your "best yet" which is something that I try to avoid saying, however this is an exceptional album. The title track sets the scene for a very well produced album, the song content reminds me of Jean Prescott. Your vocals are nothing short of brilliant and whoever plays the steel guitar sent shivers down my spine...wonderful! Let nobody say the American country is better than Aussie country. This will be played on The Bay and Forest FM

Paul Riley - Country Music People UK, Nov 1, 2011
Included on Paul Riley's Top 10 album list for 2011 -

Talented traditional Aussie singer Clelia Adams, who was born in Italy, has been making albums since l985. She should be a lot better known but despite recording since the 80's, this new release is only the singer's sixth. The main reason for this appears to be bouts of ill health, including brain surgery, from which she has now recovered and released a double CD. The Archvies has 18 tracks plucked from the singer's back catalogue. The new songs include eight written/co-written by the singer.

The opening track River Valley Express is a chugging mid-tempo train song, with fantastic guitar. It is obvious from this first song that Clelia Adams understands real country, and is a fine songwriter and singer. The Italian Cowgirl, which is even better, has a unique Aussie traditional country feel, with a nod to the singer's special Italian roots. You don't find lyrics like "the billabongs will have to wait, there's lasagna for tea" on any American album. This special song is one of this years very best tracks. Also special is Rainbird Yodel, an old timey yodel gem about various Australian birds. Like Audrey Auld's disc earlier this year, this album has many references to nature, like the beautiful ballad Golden Butterflies.

The very moving My Baby's Love, is a sad song about Clelia Adams' daughter Jessie, who gave her hope and inspiration during dark times. This is one of music's most personal songs and is fantastic. Another highlight of the self-written tracks is the bluesy Hometown Boogie. This disc also features some interesting covers versions. The best of which is Jeopardy, the Jean Shepard song (my personal favourite female singer of all time). There is also a very interesting version of Hank Williams' Baby We're Really In Love which keeps Hank's spirit alive. She also includes Half As Much on the second CD. The final track of the CD is the tradition La Paloma, sung by Clelia Adams with great pride, in her native Italian. It sounds almost like a Tex-Mex song and provides a perfect ending to one of 2011's very best albums.

There is a second disc of 18 tracks packed with very interesting songs from the singer's back catalogue. Here we have three originals, plus 15 cover versions and obscure songs that include a strong version of Bob Dylan's Forever Young with a wonderful guitar solo. Heather Myles' You're Gonna Love Me One Day gets an interesting re-boot, with a fine vocal. There is also a strange song called My Sisters and Brothers which blends reggae and gospel, and it works! Best of all is an amazing version of Lloyd Price's Just Because, with a sensational backing track. It is so good to see that Clelia Adams isn't afraid to take a few risks. Another unexpected delight on disc two is a stunning jazzy song called Never Let Me Go. Even at over five minutes, it never outstays its welcome, and what a vocal! The three original songs are all very good, the best is the moving tale My Mothers Wedding Band.

Clelia Adams is an incredible major talent. How she has such a low profile is amazing. She should have been a massive country star since the 1980's. Hopefully its not too late, and with this astonishing release she will finally break out.


Max W Achatz - Country Jukebox Round-up, Germany, October 25, 2011

You can make it short: River Valley Dreaming, the sixth album by Australian with Italian roots, is rightly hailed as her best ever. Momentum, varied, fresh, bold,
modern and traditional, that is wonderfully entertaining is what Clelia Adams presents.

Besides her own songs, you also get three cover pieces, Hank Williams, Randy Travis, Jean Shepard, and a new rendition of the world famous La Paloma is heard. A nice idea about the new CD, there is an additional CD containing songs from her 30 year career as a singer.

Miroslaw Desperak - Country DJ - Catholic Radio Fiat 94.7FM - POLAND, October 13, 2011

You have done it again, fantastic job. Congratulations to you and all your very talented musicians. "River Valley Dreaming" is a masterpiece, and more spectacular than your classic collection on "Wildflowers". It is gorgeous, first-rate, unique, and interesting that you can sing any kind of song. All 14 are great with no fillers.

Beautiful songs and many styles - blues, country, western swing, honky tonk, and jazz, which makes your albums so interesting. I was speechless when I finished listening to all the songs. You are #1 singing female star in Australia and Europe. There is no doubt about it. You have a gifted bunch of musicians, they sound as good as any of those Nashville sidemen. I admire the great sounds of Stuie French's electric and acoustic guitars. He sounds as good as Grady Martin to me.

Your voice is so strong, so clear and so beautiful. You are one of a kind. I have good news for you, Believe it or not, five of your songs are on the Top 20 list already.


Ann Pascoe - New Zealand Country Music Network Ltd, October 1, 2011

Congratulations! What a beautifully presented album "River Valley Dreaming". The photography is natural and pretty, like you in your primrose dress and bare feet, so sunny and lighthearted. The selection of songs is very interesting, and I especially like "Peel Street Busker's Lament", "My Baby's Love" and "Italian Cowgirl".

All songs are beautifully sung, and the music matches the presentation of the album, light, bright, almost delicate, so clear and very beautiful to the ear and to the mind.

Bert Everett - Country Pickins - Bundaberg Guardian, Australia, October 5, 2011

My first reaction when I took at the postpac out of the mailbox was, "This is great, I've got  Clelia Adams' new album and this was good news, as I have been following the lady's recording career for a number of years now, and have always considered it curious that, although she is very popular here in Australia, this is outstripped by her standing on the European scene, where she has picked up many awards. My real surprise came when I opened it and daw that it was a double album set, featuring "River Valley Dreaming", backed up by her "Clelia - The Archives" disc.

Lets look at what has to be the focus of attention here, "River Valley Dreaming", and we find fourteen very diverse tracks which work their way from almost traditional country, through country ballads, blues and a touch of top country rock, then winds up with a real surprise on track fourteen.

The "almost traditional" track one, "River Valley Express" lulls one into a comfort zone, which is quickly pushed out of the road by the lady's driving version of Hank Williams classic  "Baby We're Really In Love" and this diversity sets the scene for the rest of the album. Yodelling fans are nicely catered for with Clelia's self- penned "Rainbird Yodel". There are so many high spots on this CD that its hard to find any low spots, mainly because there aren't any. The folksy "Captain and the Gypsy", followed by the very much up tempo "Jeopardy", continues the contrast until the last track really caps it all off.

There are a few who would remember Elvis Presley's massive hit "No More" which of course was an adaptation of the Italian track "La Paloma", and this is the last track on the album. Not only is it the original "La Paloma", but Clelia sings it entirely in Italian.

This is the sort of album that should have all tracks commented on, but we don't have much space left, so we'd better move onto the Archives disc, which contains selected songs from her Angel Band, Fine Company, Bring it On, Heartbeat Highway and Wildflowers albums. Grab a listen, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

click an  image to download a hi-res verion
Photographic Credits to Benjamin Robins please 









River Valley Dreaming, Clelia Adams’ sixth studio album, is undoubtedly her finest work to date. Just like a vintage Italian wine, her distinctive voice and songwriting has matured and Clelia shines in her artistry.

This album contains 14 new songs which accurately reflect the road along which this captivating entertainer has travelled to achieve international acclaim.

Once again, under the guidance of her award-winning producer Stuie French, Clelia has managed to come up with a stunning combination of finely-crafted originals and surprisingly different covers that she makes all her own.

Eight of the disc’s 14 tracks come from Clelia’s pen and cover some familiar, yet interestingly varied themes. Among the original collection is a train song, a spaghetti western, a yodel, a reflection, some divine intervention, a romp around the farm, a nature walk and a love song that’s more autobiographical than not.

The carefully chosen covers take you from the streets of Tamworth during festival time to Clelia’s country and rock inspirations, such as Hank Williams, Randy Travis, Jean Shepherd and right back to Italy, closing with the piece de resistance – La Paloma, sung in her native tongue.

This music has international appeal, almost as much as the fiercely independent singer-songwriter has herself.

From Clelia’s humble beginnings in 1975 singing on sessions at the historic Hadley Studio in Tamworth on literally hundreds of recordings, to her latest global accolade, winning the Production of the Year in the 2010 European Country Music Awards for her 2008 album, Wildflowers – it’s been an amazing adventure, with many a twist and turn.

There’s a lot to cover in a career that spans more than three decades, and what better way to do that than to offer a bonus, 18-track CD, from Clelia’s extensive archives.

You will hear where it all began, with songs from the award-winning gospel album, Angel Band, in 1985, through to Clelia’s underexposed 1996 release, Fine Company, with its rootsy rhythm ’n’ country blues flavour. Soak up the classic country of Bring It On (2001) and TIARA winner Heartbeat Highway (2004), to the multiple award-winning delights of Wildflowers, her 2008 release.

This is a true career celebration, taking the listener from her former Tamworth home to her new life on the banks of the beautiful Brunswick River on the NSW North Coast.

Come celebrate the journey. Do some River Valley Dreaming of your own as you listen …

Musicians Credits for River Valley Dreaming:
STUART FRENCH - PRODUCER, electric and acoustic guitars. backing vocals
CHRIS HAIG - bass
BRAD BERGEN - drums
MICHEL ROSE - pedal steet, dobro, mandolin
DON HOPKINS - piano
GARRY STEEL - piano accordian
CAMILLE te NAHU, KATHRYN JONES, ADRIAN DAVIS - backing vocals

For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Clelia

Release created in Tamworth by Anna Rose Media Solutions for and on behalf of Clelia Adams