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The initial song I became enamored with
My first recollection is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I do at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I strangely remember every lyric to
I recently realised that I know 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 best track to blast at a soirée
It hinges on which phase 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 Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can not listen to
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate piece to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he placed the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.

The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The piece that brings me to tears
All music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord without fail.

The song I’d like to be played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.