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The earliest song I became enamored with
My earliest recollection is entering a room at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I perform at karaoke
I frankly actively avoid public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I inexplicably know all the words to
I recently became aware that I have memorized pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best track to play at a soirée
It depends on which phase of the event you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can never bear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

The tune that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The track that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and sheer perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The song I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.