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The first song I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first record I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a brand new vinyl 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 bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I do at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I oddly know every lyric to
I just discovered that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best tune to put on at a soirée
It relies on the point of the event you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

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

The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he placed the record on the record player, I was captivated.

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

The song that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and utter perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

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