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The earliest track I was captivated by
My most primal memory is walking into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first record I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I do at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I strangely remember all the words to
I just realised that I can recall virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best tune to blast at a gathering
It depends on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the 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 never listen to
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.

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

The piece that makes me cry
Most music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.

The music I’d like to be played at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.