---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We started with Denny Cordell, and he was…"
description: "\"We started with Denny Cordell, and he was a great record producer. He knew exactly how to take a band that knew absolutely nothing, and guide you witho..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/benmont-tench-18025_absolutely-nothing_we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was_1410829.jpg"
---

#  We started with Denny Cordell, and he was a great record…

![“We started with Denny Cordell, and he was a great record producer. He knew exactly how to take a band that knew absolutely nothing, and guide you without trying to tell you what to do.” quote by Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/benmont-tench-18025_absolutely-nothing_we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was_1410829.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/benmont-tench-18025_absolutely-nothing_we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was_1410829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/benmont-tench-18025_absolutely-nothing_we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was_1410829.jpg)

> “We started with Denny Cordell, and he was a great record producer. He knew exactly how to take a band that knew absolutely nothing, and guide you without trying to tell you what to do.”

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A producer can shape a band's sound by guiding without dictating, fostering organic growth.

**In simple terms:** Guidance without control helps a band develop.

Key Takeaway

Encourage mentorship that empowers creativity.

Themes

music production leadership creativity

Mood

inspirational reflective professional

Type

industry creative

When to use this quote

- recording studio
- band formation
- creative workshops

Key Concepts

mentorship artistic development collaboration

Questions to Reflect On

- How does a producer balance direction and freedom?
- What makes effective artistic mentorship?

A Different Perspective

Overguidance can stifle originality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/)

## Related quotes

> [I had no intention of being a film producer, and I knew I wasn't passionate about engineering. I was always set on having my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-packer/i-had-no-intention-of-being-a-film-producer-and-i-knew-i-wasn-t/)

[Will Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-packer/)

> [I mean, my dad's a television producer, and I knew I could get a job as an assistant or a reader with one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-mean-my-dad-s-a-television-producer-and-i-knew-i-could-get-a-job-as/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [So I became a producer because I knew one of the reasons was they didn't do them the way I thought was right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hazlewood/so-i-became-a-producer-because-i-knew-one-of-the-reasons-was-they/)

[Lee Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hazlewood/)

> [The beauty of the band was you never knew what was going to come out next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/the-beauty-of-the-band-was-you-never-knew-what-was-going-to-come-out/)

[Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/)

> [I had always wanted to make music on a big scale but never knew how it was going happen - until I saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-had-always-wanted-to-make-music-on-a-big-scale-but-never-knew-how/)

[Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/)

> [Every band I knew or played with had flyers and properly-recorded demos and contacts; I couldn't even get a gig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/every-band-i-knew-or-played-with-had-flyers-and-properly-recorded/)

[Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/)

> [But when it came to jamming and writing songs like we used to, we realized Brandon was a huge spirit in the band. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-brickell/but-when-it-came-to-jamming-and-writing-songs-like-we-used-to-we/)

[Edie Brickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-brickell/)

> [One of the reasons I joined the band was because I knew that Tommy had production experience and that he was going to produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marky-ramone/one-of-the-reasons-i-joined-the-band-was-because-i-knew-that-tommy/)

[Marky Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marky-ramone/)

> [The record producer is the music world's equivalent of a film director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ramone/the-record-producer-is-the-music-world-s-equivalent-of-a-film-director/)

[Phil Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ramone/)

> [ My record producer \[David Kahne\] said the major record labels these days are like dinosaurs sitting around discussing the asteroid. They know it's going… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/my-record-producer-david-kahne-said-the-major-record-labels-these/)

[Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/)

> [While I used to make my living principally as a record producer, as time went on, I had to depend more and more on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/while-i-used-to-make-my-living-principally-as-a-record-producer-as/)

[Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/)

> [I'm a record producer and songwriter; I'm a problem-solver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nile-rodgers/i-m-a-record-producer-and-songwriter-i-m-a-problem-solver/)

[Nile Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nile-rodgers/)

> [Immediately after the Floyd experience, I became a pop record producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-parsons/immediately-after-the-floyd-experience-i-became-a-pop-record-producer/)

[Alan Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-parsons/)

> [Got two kids; one's a record producer who lives just up the road from me - great guitarist and piano player, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy/got-two-kids-one-s-a-record-producer-who-lives-just-up-the-road-from/)

[Lemmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy/)

> [I did a record with a producer, and the good producers eat up the budget, so I didn't have any budget left to produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-lennon/i-did-a-record-with-a-producer-and-the-good-producers-eat-up-the/)

[Sean Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-lennon/)

## More by Benmont Tench

> [I'm not the best singer, but I like the way I sing my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-m-not-the-best-singer-but-i-like-the-way-i-sing-my-songs/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I did enjoy Nashville a lot of the time, because I made really good friends who were really good songwriters, and they would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-did-enjoy-nashville-a-lot-of-the-time-because-i-made-really-good/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I think I drift toward sad love songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-think-i-drift-toward-sad-love-songs/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I don't know about five guys against the world. It's more like five guys against these three chords, and we're gonna wrestle 'em down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-don-t-know-about-five-guys-against-the-world-it-s-more-like-five/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [The idea that I could write songs that people wanted to hear came from other people who said they liked what I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/the-idea-that-i-could-write-songs-that-people-wanted-to-hear-came/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Sometimes you work with somebody you've never heard of because you just feel like working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/sometimes-you-work-with-somebody-you-ve-never-heard-of-because-you/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I've always written songs since I was a kid - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-ve-always-written-songs-since-i-was-a-kid-always/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Bob Dylan's not a hype and a haircut: he's the real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/bob-dylan-s-not-a-hype-and-a-haircut-he-s-the-real-thing/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I'm not an overly skilled piano player or organ player at all, but I think I'm the right piano and organ player for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-m-not-an-overly-skilled-piano-player-or-organ-player-at-all-but-i/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I learned to play piano in a rock n' roll context or band context from country records - you know, Floyd Cramer - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-learned-to-play-piano-in-a-rock-n-roll-context-or-band-context-from/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Working with Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson takes you up another level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/working-with-waylon-jennings-and-willie-nelson-takes-you-up-another/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [I was just writing songs because, if a song shows up, you've gotta write it. I didn't know what to do with them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/i-was-just-writing-songs-because-if-a-song-shows-up-you-ve-gotta/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [There was a period when I wrote in Nashville for Maverick and then Warner/Chappell, and it was interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/there-was-a-period-when-i-wrote-in-nashville-for-maverick-and-then/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Listen to the Beatles' 'Things We Said Today.' Ringo Starr does not play a fill in the entire song. It doesn't need it. 'A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/listen-to-the-beatles-things-we-said-today-ringo-starr-does-not-play/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

> [Besides, I'm fairly incompetent. I can't play that fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/besides-i-m-fairly-incompetent-i-can-t-play-that-fast/)

[Benmont Tench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

[Explore all 36 Benmont Tench quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/)

## More Absolutely nothing quotes

> [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [“Amateur psychiatric prognosis can be fascinating when there is absolutely nothing else to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-condon/amateur-psychiatric-prognosis-can-be-fascinating-when-there-is/)

[Richard Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-condon/)

> [I am unusual for a Frenchman - I have absolutely nothing against the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-am-unusual-for-a-frenchman-i-have-absolutely-nothing-against-the/)

[Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/)

> [I know quickly whether a guy is boyfriend material. If I can have a good time doing absolutely nothing with him, then that's boyfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-hannigan/i-know-quickly-whether-a-guy-is-boyfriend-material-if-i-can-have-a/)

[Alyson Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-hannigan/)

> [I cannot conceive of music that expresses absolutely nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-bartok/i-cannot-conceive-of-music-that-expresses-absolutely-nothing/)

[Bela Bartok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-bartok/)

> [Well, I've got nothing to hide. Absolutely nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/well-i-ve-got-nothing-to-hide-absolutely-nothing/)

[Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/)

> [Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-caddy/expect-the-most-wonderful-things-to-happen-not-in-the-future-but/)

[Eileen Caddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-caddy/)

> [There is no reason not to love. There is no reason not to be joyous. There is no reason not to celebrate because all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-no-reason-not-to-love-there-is-no-reason-not-to-be-joyous/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Here is something no real celebrity will ever tell you: film acting is not very fun. Doing the same thing over and over again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/here-is-something-no-real-celebrity-will-ever-tell-you-film-acting-is/)

[Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/)

> [Listen to everyone, read everything; believe absolutely nothing unless you can prove it in your own right!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-william-cooper/listen-to-everyone-read-everything-believe-absolutely-nothing-unless/)

[Milton William Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-william-cooper/)

> [What a delightful thing is the conversation of specialists! One understands absolutely nothing and it's charming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/what-a-delightful-thing-is-the-conversation-of-specialists-one/)

[Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/)

> [I go to practice every day. I really don't have a training camp. In the boxing world, and that's where that came from, almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/i-go-to-practice-every-day-i-really-don-t-have-a-training-camp-in-the/)

[Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/)

> [There is absolutely nothing that you desire that you cannot achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-is-absolutely-nothing-that-you-desire-that-you-cannot-achieve/)

[Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/)

> [What did Republicans get for 16 days of a government shutdown with people being hurt? We have absolutely nothing to show for it, other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-did-republicans-get-for-16-days-of-a-government-shutdown-with/)

[Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/)

> [Speak kind words to mankind and the unkind will attack you. Speak common sense using all your senses, and you will attacked by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/speak-kind-words-to-mankind-and-the-unkind-will-attack-you-speak/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

Browse all 268 Absolutely nothing quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We started with Denny Cordell, and he was a great record producer. He knew exactly how to take a band that knew absolutely nothing, and guide you without trying to tell you what to do.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benmont Tench"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was-a-great-record-producer-he/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Absolutely nothing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was-a-great-record-producer-he/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/benmont-tench-18025_absolutely-nothing_we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was_1410829.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/benmont-tench-18025_absolutely-nothing_we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was_1410829.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/benmont-tench-18025_absolutely-nothing_we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was_1410829.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We started with Denny Cordell, and he was a great record producer. He knew exactly how to take a band that…” — Benmont Tench",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Benmont Tench",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benmont-tench/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We started with Denny Cordell, and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was-a-great-record-producer-he/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benmont-tench/we-started-with-denny-cordell-and-he-was-a-great-record-producer-he/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
