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The initial song I became enamored with
My first memory is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I perform at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I inexplicably recite each line to
I not long ago realised that I know virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best tune to blast at a party
It depends on which phase of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through the Artist, the 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 the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can no longer bear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.

The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The piece that gets me emotional
Most music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and pure brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The song I’d like performed at my funeral
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.