The interesting thing is that I've never really cared about lyrics, the music is the majority of what I pay attention to. If the lyrics are intelligent and though-provoking it's an added bonus, but if the music is good then it doesn't really matter to me whatsoever.
I came into all this stuff WAY later of course. I like The Beatles from around the time of Rubber Soul, but it is really post-Sgt. Pepper that gets me the most.
I'm a total LP guy, singles were never my thing.
Sorry to derail the thread, but it's interesting to think about.