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The first track I was captivated by
My first memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I perform at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand public singing 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 recite each line 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 Paul Simon.

The perfect tune to put on at a party
It relies on what stage of the event 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 transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played 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 captivated.

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

The song that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and pure brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.

The music I’d like to be played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.