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The earliest tune I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is entering a room at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I perform at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I strangely know each line to
I recently discovered that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal track to put on at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the evening you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can not hear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best track to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he put the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The piece that gets me emotional
Most music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and sheer perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

The track I’d like to be played 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.