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The initial song I fell in love with
My earliest memory is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I strangely recite all the words to
I just discovered that I can recall almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best track to play at a gathering
It depends on the point of the evening you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can not hear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best track to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The track that gets me emotional
Virtually any music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

The music I’d like played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.