From the moment the Eagles burst onto the scene, their music radiated California sunshine. The band’s signature harmonies made it easy to imagine them cruising down the highway without a care in the world — even if, behind the scenes, they weren’t always the best of friends.
Yet, for Don Henley, one of the Eagles’ most important musical lessons came from across the Atlantic, courtesy of The Beatles — the band he calls his “favourite group in the entire world.”
A Surprising Influence
Although the Eagles are often seen as rooted in American country-rock, their influences were far broader. The band explored multiple styles over their career — from the soft-spoken storytelling of ‘Desperado’ to the hard rock punch of ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ and even disco-inspired beats on ‘One of These Nights.’
Henley credits part of this musical openness to The Beatles. While many fans first fell for the Fab Four’s charm on The Ed Sullivan Show, Henley was captivated by their meticulous studio craftsmanship.
Learning from the Fab Four
For Henley, The Beatles set the gold standard in recording. Even their later albums — Let It Be and The White Album — carried an uncompromising quality control. “Nothing would get past John Lennon and Paul McCartney if they felt it wasn’t good enough,” Henley noted.
When working on the Eagles’ 2007 comeback album Long Road Out of Eden, Henley reflected on the Beatles’ dynamic:
“I know how The Beatles did it in the final days, and that’s fine. That’s still my favourite group in the entire world. But I hope that we can do it in a more authentically collaborative fashion than that.”
Parallel Paths in Later Years
Like The Beatles’ final projects, Long Road Out of Eden sometimes feels like a collection of solo efforts stitched together. While Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, and Henley each brought their own voice to the record, Henley never forgot The Beatles’ most important rule: if the song is great, nothing else matters.
A Timeless Standard
Don Henley’s admiration for The Beatles goes beyond nostalgia. It’s about adopting their commitment to excellence and genre exploration — qualities that helped define both bands.
From Liverpool to Los Angeles, the lesson remains the same: perfect the song, and the rest will follow.
