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The initial track I became enamored with
My earliest recollection is walking into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly know all the words to
I just became aware that I can recall almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best track to blast at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the party you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and David 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 absolute banger.

The song I can not bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal piece to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.

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

The song that makes me cry
Most music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The music I’d like to be played at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.