The 'old classic stuff' remembered by 'old classic folks' had infinite more exposure to our ears and brains compared to modern music and the current young population.
1) We bought an album once in a while and played the thing to death many times just because we spent the money on it. And in most cases, both sides, all the way through. You think anyone would know tunes like "Wild Honey Pie" (White album) or "Vienna" (the Stranger) without playing the albums over and over and all the way through?
2) The music was of the time was heard almost everywhere we went. Most radio stations played all of the same stuff. We heard it in the stores, at our friends, at restaurants, etc. Music was everywhere and it was not specialized. You had a pretty good shot of hearing 'Hotel California' no matter where you found yourself in the late '70s
3) You could make your own cassette comp, that's true, but most folks back then made album tapes, again exposing the listener to the entire track list
4) Most people attach themselves to their surroundings when they are growing up, thus the 'stop listening at 39' deal. Because older people learned the music when the exposure was much greater, they remember those as the best times and the best music. You do shut down as you get older and while you might like a song you hear today, you are less likely to seek out a title from an old favorite artist, and even less likely to listen to 'the whole album' over and over like you used to do. Plus, you will find that no one else is listening to it either. You don't hear it anywhere else. I have a stack of CDs from artists I absolutely cherish, but have only played through once or twice.
The past is better because it's easier. It's what you know and is your foundation. That's why we buy DSOTM 100 times, or try and get the best and greatest pressing or mix or remix of the old stuff, because it's EASY. Easy to listen to. It makes us happy.
Remaster of "Band on the Run" in Atmos - GO GET IT, who cares what it costs !! Remaster of 'McCartney III' in Atmos - uh, no thanks.
And the youngest people learning music now get it in songs, not albums. And they only get the music they want to hear. They don't put up with 'Wild Honey Pie' because they don't have to. And, unlike us old guys who heard Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Louis Armstrong, Roger Miller, and so many other non-rock artists ON THE SAME STATION we listened to for the Beatles, Stones, CCR, etc, they never get exposed to other music. They just don't want to and don't have to.
And old guys like me, I don't want to be exposed to it either!
So give me 'Wild Honey Pie'. Even though I can easily skip it with a remote, I just let it roll because that's what we do. It's supposed to be heard, otherwise how can you get to "Bungelo Bill?"
