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The earliest tune I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I perform at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I strangely remember each line to
I recently discovered that I have memorized almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect track to play at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the event you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The track I can never hear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The song that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and utter perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The track I’d like to be played at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.