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The initial tune I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is stepping into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first record I acquired
When I was eight, I won 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 Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I do at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I oddly remember each line to
I just realised 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 ideal song to play at a soirée
It relies on the point of the party you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The number I can never listen to
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The track that brings me to tears
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and utter perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord without fail.

The track I’d like performed at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.