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The initial tune I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is walking into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first record I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop 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 track I sing at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I inexplicably remember all the words to
I not long ago realised that I know virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best song to put on at a party
It hinges on the point of the party you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, 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 for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate piece to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, 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 high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was captivated.

The song that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The song that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and sheer brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.

The music I’d like to be played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.