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The initial song I was captivated by
My earliest memory is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to select a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I sing at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I oddly know each line to
I just discovered that I have memorized pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect tune to play at a party
It hinges on which phase of the event you are at. Early doors it would 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 really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can no longer bear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

The tune that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The piece that gets me emotional
Most music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and pure beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard consistently.

The music I’d like performed at my memorial service
The King. 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.