--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Making a record? You've got to have the…" description: "\"Making a record? You've got to have the song, then you create a record. I think it's the same with a live performance. If the material is strong, you'r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/tom-petty-2030_about_making-a-record-you-ve-got-to-have-the-s_2485052.jpg" --- # Making a record? You've got to have the song, then you… ![“Making a record? You've got to have the song, then you create a record. I think it's the same with a live performance. If the material is strong, you're already 90% there. I always tell young people it's all about the music, the songs. Work on the songs, work on the songs, work on the songs.” quote by Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/tom-petty-2030_about_making-a-record-you-ve-got-to-have-the-s_2485052.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/tom-petty-2030_about_making-a-record-you-ve-got-to-have-the-s_2485052.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/tom-petty-2030_about_making-a-record-you-ve-got-to-have-the-s_2485052.jpg) > “Making a record? You've got to have the song, then you create a record. I think it's the same with a live performance. If the material is strong, you're already 90% there. I always tell young people it's all about the music, the songs. Work on the songs, work on the songs, work on the songs.” [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success in music stems from strong songwriting; performance follows the song’s quality. **In simple terms:** Good songs lead to good records. Key Takeaway Focus on songwriting first. Themes creativity craft music industry Mood motivational practical Type professional educational When to use this quote - studio recording - live shows - artist development Key Concepts songwriting artistic discipline Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance songwriting and performance? - What habits improve song quality? A Different Perspective Neglecting performance skills can limit impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Live performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-performance/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [Each word can be transformed into a song, a song is to create an action. An action has a consequence and gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-evans/each-word-can-be-transformed-into-a-song-a-song-is-to-create-an/) [Adrian Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-evans/) > [Nothing is more rewarding than to take a song, create it out of thin air and then watch it affect people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/nothing-is-more-rewarding-than-to-take-a-song-create-it-out-of-thin/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [I praised those who find within themselves their own song to create hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-praised-those-who-find-within-themselves-their-own-song-to-create/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [With rock music, it usually revolves around the band. You go in as a band and probably take about a year to record an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-barker/with-rock-music-it-usually-revolves-around-the-band-you-go-in-as-a/) [Travis Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-barker/) > [The first album is a classic record and I think the prototype of a sound that no one else does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-valentine/the-first-album-is-a-classic-record-and-i-think-the-prototype-of-a/) [Kathy Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-valentine/) > [I can make a record when I think I have a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-carmen/i-can-make-a-record-when-i-think-i-have-a-good-one/) [Eric Carmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-carmen/) > [We asked the Beastie Boys to do a record with us. I think they decided that they didn't want to do it. That hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-run/we-asked-the-beastie-boys-to-do-a-record-with-us-i-think-they-decided/) [Rev. Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-run/) > [I'm not afraid to do a contrast in terms of what my record is, what I want to do, versus Ted Cruz's record of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-allred/i-m-not-afraid-to-do-a-contrast-in-terms-of-what-my-record-is-what-i/) [Colin Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-allred/) > [We worked very hard on that untitled record to do something different and that we were proud of and to try a bunch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/we-worked-very-hard-on-that-untitled-record-to-do-something-different/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [There's all these musicians in the world, and anybody that takes enough time to create a record or even think about the fantasy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/there-s-all-these-musicians-in-the-world-and-anybody-that-takes/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [Everybody tells me I have a good record. Sometimes I have to think that I have to keep building my record after going five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/everybody-tells-me-i-have-a-good-record-sometimes-i-have-to-think/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I don't know if I want to break my own record. I think I would rather leave it as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-don-t-know-if-i-want-to-break-my-own-record-i-think-i-would-rather/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [I panic every time I put out a record. I think every artist does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-panic-every-time-i-put-out-a-record-i-think-every-artist-does/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I write not to record what I think but to discover what I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-malouf/i-write-not-to-record-what-i-think-but-to-discover-what-i-think/) [David Malouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-malouf/) > [The minute you make a record because you think somebody's going to play it on the radio is the minute you ought to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/the-minute-you-make-a-record-because-you-think-somebody-s-going-to/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) ## More by Tom Petty > [Where the sky begins, the horizon ends, despite the best intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/where-the-sky-begins-the-horizon-ends-despite-the-best-intentions/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [As time goes by, you seem to weed out the things that were making your life hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/as-time-goes-by-you-seem-to-weed-out-the-things-that-were-making-your/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I would never put my songs in a commercial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-would-never-put-my-songs-in-a-commercial/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Take back your insurance, baby, nothing is guaranteed. Take back your acid rain, let your TV bleed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/take-back-your-insurance-baby-nothing-is-guaranteed-take-back-your/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [The great thing about the Wilburys was that none of us had to take the heat by ourselves. I was just a member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/the-great-thing-about-the-wilburys-was-that-none-of-us-had-to-take/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I don't believe in censorship, but I do believe that an artist has to take some moral responsibility for what he or she is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-don-t-believe-in-censorship-but-i-do-believe-that-an-artist-has-to/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Any time you're making a living at what you love to do, you're blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/any-time-you-re-making-a-living-at-what-you-love-to-do-you-re-blessed/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [A rebel without a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/a-rebel-without-a-clue/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [If you look around at America, that's one of its biggest problems is you have corporations that can never be pleased at a profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/if-you-look-around-at-america-that-s-one-of-its-biggest-problems-is/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Even the losers get lucky sometimes. Even the losers keep a little bit of pride. They get lucky sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/even-the-losers-get-lucky-sometimes-even-the-losers-keep-a-little-bit/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [If you stretch your imagination, I'll tell you all a tale, about a time when everything wasn't up for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/if-you-stretch-your-imagination-i-ll-tell-you-all-a-tale-about-a-time/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Buy me a drink, sing me a song; take me as I come, cause I can't stay long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/buy-me-a-drink-sing-me-a-song-take-me-as-i-come-cause-i-can-t-stay/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I never could have dreamed that her heart was so wicked, but I keep coming back because it's so hard to kick it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-never-could-have-dreamed-that-her-heart-was-so-wicked-but-i-keep/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [She's a good girl, crazy about Elvis, loves horses, and her boyfriend, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/she-s-a-good-girl-crazy-about-elvis-loves-horses-and-her-boyfriend-too/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I'm more interested in what I'm going to leave behind me than in making a big hit record. I've refined what I do for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-m-more-interested-in-what-i-m-going-to-leave-behind-me-than-in/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) [Explore all 190 Tom Petty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Making a record? You've got to have the song, then you create a record. I think it's the same with a live performance. If the material is strong, you're already 90% there. I always tell young people it's all about the music, the songs. 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