When I was in school from 1950 to 1962 our music classes taught us all about the music of days gone by right up to the current rock n' roll that broke through with Elvis mid way through that period. We sang many of those old favourites in weekly hour long musical sessions and sing-a-longs held for the entire school in the gym. In public school that included grades one to eight, all in one room singing together.
We sang and listened to such great songs as Down By The Old Mill Stream, Oh, You Beautiful Doll, I Want A Girl Just Like The Girl That Married Dear Old Dad, If You Were The Only Girl In The World, Zuyder Zee, Moonlight Bay, Waiting For The Robert E. Lee, Ballin' The Jack, Peg O' My Heart, Ol' Man River, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Yankee Doodle Boy, Oh, You Beautiful Doll, It's a Long Way to Tipperary, Aba Daba Honeymoon, Mademoiselle from Armentieres, Pack Up Your Troubles, Over There, Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny and I could go on, the list is endless.
We listened on radio to the likes of Al Bowlly, Chick Bullock, Bing Crosby, Cab Calloway, Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting, Annette Hanshaw, Al Jolson and Helen Kane.
This was ALL 40 to 50 year old music at that time, just like McCartney is today, but there is one big difference. We were taught it in school, unlike today where schools no longer teach the history of entertainment or have all grade group sing-a-longs.
If they did, every teen out there would not only know McCartney, they might even know Doris Day or Patsy Cline or Robert Goulet or Howard Keel or Mario Lanza or, well by now you get my drift.
I'm not saying today's schools are bad, just different. Blaming teens for not knowing such things is pointing the finger at the wrong group. If the will was there, they too would know and have a greater appreciation for all music.