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The first song I became enamored with
My most primal recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first single 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 Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I perform at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably know each line to
I recently became aware that I know pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best song to play at a party
It depends on which phase of the event you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can no longer bear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

The track that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The song that gets me emotional
All music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The song I’d like played at my funeral
The King. 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.