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The first track I became enamored with
My first recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first single I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the mini disco 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 allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I inexplicably recite all the words to
I just realised that I have memorized almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal song to blast at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the evening you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The track I can no longer listen to
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate track to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round 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 placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.

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

The song that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and pure perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.

The music I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.