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The earliest track I fell in love with
My first recollection is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. 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 song I do at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly remember each line to
I recently discovered that I can recall virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal track to play at a gathering
It relies on the point of the event you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he placed the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

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

The piece that makes me cry
Most music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.

The song I’d like to be played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.