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The first song I fell in love with
My earliest memory is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I sing at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I oddly know each line to
I not long ago became aware that I can recall virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best track to play at a soirée
It depends on which phase of the party you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The track I can not listen to
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he put the record on the record player, I was hooked.

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

The track that brings me to tears
All music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and sheer beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The music 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.