He is notable for his mid-1960s and early 1970s productions of hit singles for The Moody Blues, Leon Russell, The Move, Procol Harum, Joe Cocker and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Cordell grew up in England and was educated at Cranleigh School.
When Cordell started to work more closely with The Moody Blues, he decided to leave Island and become an independent producer.
[2] On the back of his success with Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help From My Friends", Cordell moved his operation to Los Angeles and started Shelter Records, with session piano player Leon Russell.
[2] Among others he helped produce The Cranberries, who wrote a song in his tribute called "Cordell" (1996), and Melissa Etheridge's album Yes I Am.