Whether they are better or not, they linger the longest. I often ask (older) folk the year of their (first) marriage. Typically folks’ best-loved songs were at the height of popularity when young and in love. My two cents (with penny-rounding in Canada, that’s zero). I can usually pull up a chart-topper from any year 1930-1950, and often hit the spot with seniors. Thanks for the thread, Saul   
keep on pickin
dennis