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The initial tune I was captivated by
My most primal memory is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I honestly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I inexplicably recite all the words to
I recently realised that I know virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal track to blast at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the evening you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

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

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

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.

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

The song that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The track I’d like played at my funeral
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.