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The initial track I fell in love with
My most primal memory is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money 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 one of the Beatles.

The song I do at sing-along
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I inexplicably know each line to
I not long ago became aware that I can recall 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 perfect tune to blast at a party
It relies 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 Bowie, and when it gets lively, 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 no longer hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best song to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, 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 electrifying rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was hooked.

The song that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The song that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.

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