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The initial song I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is entering a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first record I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I perform at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly know each line to
I recently realised that I can recall 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 best song to blast at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the event you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d work through the Artist, 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 massive track.

The song I can never bear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best piece to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, 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 music. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was captivated.

The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The piece that gets me emotional
All music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.

The track I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.