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The initial song I became enamored with
My first recollection is stepping into a space at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. 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 savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly remember each line to
I not long ago discovered that I know virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal track to blast at a party
It depends on the point of the party you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can never hear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best piece to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was captivated.

The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The track that gets me emotional
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and utter beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going consistently.

The music I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.