Jeff Lynne, best known as the frontman of Electric Light Orchestra, has named The Zombies' 1968 album Odessey and Oracle as a record he played on repeat for months, praising its craftsmanship despite his own reputation as a Beatles devotee. The ELO leader's musical output has always leaned towards melody and warmth over aggression, drawing on influences such as Roy Orbison's ballads and Chuck Berry's dancefloor rock and roll, and his enthusiasm for The Zombies' underrated classic fits that same appreciation for gorgeous, well-crafted pop songwriting.

Lynne discovered the album via a cassette given to him by his friend, the writer Ian La Frenais, and said he loved every song on it, singling out Colin Blunstone's vocals and the record's "great harmonies". Tracks such as 'This Will Be Our Year' are held up as examples of simple, chord-light songwriting elevated by strong melody, and the album is credited with influencing the power pop movement of the 1970s, placing The Zombies alongside acts like The Beatles, Ramones and Cheap Trick despite never achieving comparable commercial success.