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The first track I became enamored with
My earliest memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first record I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably remember all the words to
I just 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 Paul Simon.

The perfect song to blast at a party
It hinges on what stage of the party you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can never bear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he put the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

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

The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord consistently.

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