"the 50s, during which I did my National Service, attended university,"

I'm inclined to trust MtheGM's assessment on this one. I wasn't there but my mother who was, always maintained that the 50's were nauseatingly twee for music. Lots of formulaic 'nice' boys and girls singing bland predictable pop tunes.. (certainly sounds familiar). Luckily for her she had imported Motown to fall back on. She reckoned the 60's were a well needed blast of fresh air and blew all the 50's pap out of the window.