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The earliest song I was captivated by
My earliest memory is entering a space at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money 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 mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I perform at karaoke
I frankly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I not long ago became aware that I know almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect song to blast at a party
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can not listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

The song that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.

The track I’d like to be played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.