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The earliest song I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I perform at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I oddly recite all the words to
I not long ago realised that I can recall virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect tune to put on at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the party you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can not bear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. 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 music. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

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

The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and utter brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord without fail.

The song I’d like performed 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.