Clelia Adams - Author of One Of A Kind: The Adventures of Cleo from Go-Set Magazine

In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack talks with Clelia Adams, author of One Of A Kind: The Adventures of Cleo from Go-Set Magazine. Clelia grew up in Orange, surrounded by the music of the early '60s. In 1966, Go-Set Magazine—the first magazine to cover the Australian pop music scene—began publishing. Clelia was hooked from the beginning.

In June 1967, Clelia moved from Orange to Sydney and soon got a job at the Go-Set Sydney office. She would work with the magazine for the next four years.

After her time at Go-Set, Clelia joined WEA Records in 1972. Her main job during this time was to organise press conferences for international WEA acts touring Australia. Jethro Tull was the first band she worked with. Their album Thick as a Brick had just come out, so instead of sending normal press invitations, Clelia wrapped bricks in newspaper with red ribbon and sent them out as invites to the press conference. The album would go on to become a number one hit in Australia.

Led Zeppelin toured Australia in February 1972. Clelia met the band when they visited the WEA offices, and she worked on their Australian tour through the WEA label. One of the last bands she worked with at WEA was The Rolling Stones, during their 1973 Australian tour.

In the mid-'70s, Clelia moved to Tamworth to embark on a career in country music.

After releasing her first studio album, Fine Company, in 1996, Clelia has now recorded a total of six studio albums and recently compiled a greatest hits CD. During the COVID lockdowns, Clelia began working on her memoir. It covers her time at Go-Set, WEA, and her career in country music. It was released in December 2024.

Jack called Clelia to talk about her early music memories, growing up in Orange, what Melbourne in the '60s was like, how she came to work at Go-Set, her memories of working at the magazine, the impact Go-Set had on the Australian music scene, how she came to work for WEA Records, her memories of working with Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, her solo music work, her new compilation album, and her new book.

"They came into the office… just popped in to say hello and do the social thing. Robert Plant—well, as soon as he walked into the room, he was like a lion king. That hair was just flowing everywhere. Anyway, he sees me in the corner, where I was sitting at my typewriter. He launches himself onto a chair in front of my desk, leans forward with his hands on the table, ends up about two inches from my face, and says, ‘I think you must come out with me tonight.’”

– Clelia Adams on this episode of Vinyl Vibes, talking about Led Zeppelin dropping by the WEA offices.

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins.

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