I suspect that it's something to do with the generation gap. Remembering back to when I was young, I'd never listen to anything my parents listened to, or even my grandparent's music, but my great-grandparents stuff was a bit listenable, even if for a joke.

Ms. Lynn (somehow I can't call her Vera!) had a very good voice, and her songs are pretty much part of England's history.

It's different for folkies, who have a sense of history.