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The first song I became enamored with
My most primal memory is entering a room at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I strangely know all the words to
I not long ago realised that I have memorized 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 ideal track to blast at a soirée
It hinges 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 party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The track I can not bear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he placed the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The song that brings me to tears
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and utter beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.

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