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The first tune I was captivated by
My most primal memory is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I oddly remember every lyric to
I recently became aware that I can recall pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect tune to play at a soirée
It hinges on the point of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to the Artist, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can no longer hear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The album that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.

The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The piece that makes me cry
Most music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and pure beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

The track I’d like performed at my final send-off
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.