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The earliest tune I became enamored with
My most primal memory is walking into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased 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 selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably know each line to
I not long ago realised that I can recall almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best song to play at a party
It hinges on what stage of the event you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The track I can never listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal piece to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter 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 placed the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The song that makes me cry
Most music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord without fail.

The music I’d like to be played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.