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The earliest song I became enamored with
My first recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

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

The track I do at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably know every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I know almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best song to blast at a party
It depends on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d transition into 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 absolute banger.

The track I can not listen to
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The piece that makes me cry
All music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and utter perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.

The music I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.