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The first song I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to choose a brand 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 the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I do at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I strangely know every lyric to
I just became aware 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 tune to play at a gathering
It hinges on what stage of the event you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can never listen to
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly 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 ’n’roll. As soon as he put the record on the record player, I was captivated.

The tune that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The track that gets me emotional
All music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and pure beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord without fail.

The track I’d like performed at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.