This is an interesting thread. What other musical genre would inspire similar sentiments I wonder?

I must admit Pip, that while I can and do enjoy the singers you mention, they really remain stepping stones for me to learn the songs. I've recently garnered some other earlier sources too now, so they may fulfill a similar function.

But frankly I harbour little or no sentiment over revival singers. Certainly *far* less than I do over artists that composed their own music in other genres. So perhaps that's a prejudice on my part.