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The earliest track I became enamored with
My earliest recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I strangely recite each line to
I recently realised that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect track to play at a soirée
It hinges on the point of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The track I can never hear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, 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 electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

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

The piece that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and utter perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord without fail.

The song I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.