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The earliest tune I fell in love with
My first recollection is entering a room at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money 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 dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I sing at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I not long ago discovered that I know virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal track to put on at a gathering
It relies on the point of the event you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, 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 undeniable hit.

The track I can not listen to
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The song that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The song that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and pure beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The track I’d like to be played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.