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The earliest tune I was captivated by
My first memory is walking into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I do at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I oddly know each line to
I recently became aware that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect song to put on at a gathering
It relies on the point of the evening you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can no longer bear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he put the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The song that makes me cry
Most music leaves me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and pure perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The music I’d like to be played 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.