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The earliest tune I was captivated by
My earliest memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a new record 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 No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at sing-along
I honestly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I strangely recite all the words to
I just discovered that I have memorized almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal track to play at a party
It relies on the point of the evening you are at. Early doors 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 David 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 track I can never listen to
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, 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 powerful rock music. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The song that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.

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