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The earliest tune I was captivated by
My earliest memory is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I sing at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I inexplicably remember each line to
I just discovered that I have memorized almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect tune to blast at a party
It hinges on which phase of the party you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to 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 massive track.

The track I can no longer bear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and just learning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. As soon as he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The song that makes me cry
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and pure beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The song I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.