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The first tune I fell in love with
My first memory is walking into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I strangely know every lyric to
I recently realised that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect track to play at a party
It relies on which phase of the party you are at. Early doors 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 Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The number I can never hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best piece to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he placed the record on the record player, I was hooked.

The track that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The piece that makes me cry
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and utter perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.

The music I’d like to be played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.