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The earliest tune I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is entering a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I know virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal song to play at a party
It relies on the point 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 work through Prince, the 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 absolute banger.

The track I can never bear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The record that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and pure brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The song I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.