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The initial song I fell in love with
My most primal recollection is entering 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 45 I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I oddly recite every lyric to
I recently realised that I know almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal song to play at a soirée
It depends on the point of the event you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and David 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 massive track.

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

The ultimate track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The piece that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and utter perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord without fail.

The music I’d like performed 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.