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The earliest tune I was captivated by
My earliest memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I strangely know all the words to
I not long ago realised that I can recall pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best song to play at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, 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 song I can no longer hear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, 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 rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The track that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going consistently.

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