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The first track I fell in love with
My first recollection is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I strangely know each line to
I not long ago realised that I know almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal song to blast at a party
It hinges on what stage of the evening you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can no longer bear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The piece that gets me emotional
All music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

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 laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.