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The earliest track I was captivated by
My first recollection is entering a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first single I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at sing-along
I frankly actively avoid public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I oddly remember all the words to
I recently realised that I know pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect tune to blast at a party
It relies on what stage of the evening you are at. At the start it would 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 gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The track I can no longer hear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

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

The piece that makes me cry
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.

The music I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.