Glenn Frey and Don Henley of the Eagles regarded the Beach Boys as the greatest American vocal group, according to the article. Their admiration highlights the Beach Boys’ influence on the Eagles’ close-harmony sound and on California popular music more broadly.

Frey said the Beach Boys, particularly Brian Wilson, influenced all of the Eagles and praised their vocal work. The article also notes Henley’s influences, including the Byrds, Mills Brothers, Four Preps and Four Freshmen, while citing the Beach Boys’ arrangements on songs such as ‘Good Vibrations’ and ‘God Only Knows’.