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The earliest track I became enamored with
My earliest memory is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to select a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance 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 selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at sing-along
I frankly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I inexplicably know all the words to
I just became aware that I have memorized virtually 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 ideal tune to blast at a gathering
It depends on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David 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 massive track.

The song I can no longer hear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The piece that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and sheer perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The track I’d like played at my funeral
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.