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The earliest tune I became enamored with
My earliest memory is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first record I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I inexplicably recite every lyric to
I recently discovered 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 the legendary songwriter.

The best song to put on at a soirée
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling 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 song I can not listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

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

The track that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The track I’d like performed at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.