Song Chronicles view podcast

In only a year since its debut, The Great Song Adventure has become known as one of the most compellingly substantial podcasts about songwriters and songwriting there is. Its hosts, Louise Goffin and Paul Zollo, both have deep roots in songwriting, passion for the process, and real reverence for songs and the songwriters who write them. Both have given songwriting workshops and masterclasses for years, and decided to team up to combine their talents and love for songwriting to create this podcast, which celebrates and preserves the wisdom and history of great songwriters and music makers. Their first year featured shows with Van Dyke Parks, Mike Stoller (of Leiber & Stoller), Lou Adler, The Motels, Peter Asher and Chris Difford and more, as well as archival interviews with Leonard Cohen, Chrissie Hynde and Tom Petty.  

One of their biggest fans turned out to one of the world’s greatest living songwriters (who also is Louise’s mom) Carole King. They sat down to record an episode with Carole that was so joyful and expansive, that it stretched into five episodes. It was actually Carole’s idea to do the interview. Louise, knowing of her mom’s reticence to do any performances or interviews, didn’t ask her to be involved. But she did send her links to each episode, which Carole loved, especially the interview with Chrissie Hynde. “I really enjoyed that one,” Carole said, “because it was a real conversation. It wasn’t just a series of questions, like most interviews. I saw a side of her I’d never seen.”

They have incredible guests coming up as well as never-before-heard on audio archives with Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Paul Simon, Rickie Lee Jones, Yoko Ono and more. 

The Great Song Adventure has made an impact in a short time, as listeners have enjoyed the intimacy of the interviews, as well as the deep knowledge and love of the history, and getting the record straight. As songwriters themselves, Louise and Paul speak the language of musicians, and their talks are always especially informed, in-depth and warmly intimate.

Louise Goffin is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer of a Grammy nominated album, and artist who released her debut album Kid Blue at 19 and has gone on to release nine solo albums. Her most recent album is the critically-acclaimed All These Hellos. As the daughter of Goffin and King, she was raised in the very heart of songwriting greatness, and just in time for the explosive emergence of the singer-songwriter into our culture.

Paul Zollo is a songwriter, recording artist and author of many books, including what many have called “the songwriter’s bible,” Songwriters On Songwriting, and its sequel More Songwriters On Songwriting. He’s also the author of Conversations with Tom Petty (a new edition of which is being published later this year), and Hollywood Remembered. Currently the managing editor of American Songwriter magazine, he’s written for many magazines as well as the Grammys and their website, and has worked on many movie documentaries, including Legends of the Canyon, about the musicians of Laurel Canyon.