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The initial song I was captivated by
My earliest memory is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I inexplicably remember all the words to
I recently realised that I have memorized almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal song to put on at a party
It depends on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The number I can not hear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, 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 guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The track that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The track that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and pure beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.

The song I’d like performed 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.