The January 1980 issue of Texas Monthly took note of the Dirkx brothers, calling them "an economical trio oozing juvenile enthusiasm.

[9] Over the years, The Telefones have shared the bill with numerous notable musical acts, including The B52's, The Bangles, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Go-Go's, Oingo Boingo, Split Enz, Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Toadies.

Their set list consists of songs from all three decades of their existence, and pulls from multiple rock and pop music genres.

"[12] "The Ballad of Jerry Godzilla" (the double A-side of the "She's In Love With The Rolling Stones" single) came to be regarded as "a landmark area recording.

[17] In 2014, The Telefones' song "The Ballad of Jerry Godzilla" was licensed for Episode 8 of the television series Halt and Catch Fire on AMC, which is set in 1983.