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The earliest tune I became enamored with
My first recollection is stepping into a space at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I chose 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 record shop in Lancashire. 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 song I perform at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I strangely know every lyric to
I recently discovered that I know almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect tune to play at a gathering
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 Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can no longer hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he put the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

The track 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 touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and pure beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The track I’d like played at my funeral
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.