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The earliest tune I became enamored with
My most primal memory is stepping into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I perform at karaoke
I frankly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I strangely know all the words to
I just discovered that I have memorized virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best track to play at a party
It depends on which phase of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The number I can no longer hear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The song that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.

The track I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.