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The earliest track I fell in love with
My first recollection is walking into a room at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose 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 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 karaoke
I frankly actively avoid public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I oddly remember every lyric to
I recently became aware that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal tune to play at a gathering
It hinges on the point of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The song I can never hear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best piece to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder 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 parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The piece that brings me to tears
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

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.