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The initial tune I became enamored with
My first recollection is entering a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I strangely remember every lyric to
I recently realised that I know 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 gathering
It relies on which phase of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The song I can not listen to
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

The song that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The song that makes me cry
All music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going consistently.

The track I’d like performed at my memorial service
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.