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The first tune I was captivated by
My first memory is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I perform at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I strangely recite all the words to
I just discovered that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect song to put on at a party
It hinges on which phase of the party you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The song I can never hear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

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

The song that makes me cry
All music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The track I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.