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The earliest track I was captivated by
My most primal memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party 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 allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly know all the words to
I recently became aware that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect song to play at a party
It depends on the point of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, 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 track I can no longer listen to
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best piece to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.

The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The piece that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.

The track I’d like performed at my memorial service
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.