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The initial song I fell in love with
My earliest memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first single I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought 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 do at karaoke
I frankly 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 piece I oddly recite all the words to
I recently became aware that I have memorized 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 tune to play at a gathering
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can not listen to
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The track that gets me emotional
All music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The track I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. 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.