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The first song I was captivated by
My most primal memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money 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 father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I strangely know each line to
I recently discovered that I have memorized virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal song to put on at a gathering
It hinges on which phase of the event 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 the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David 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 undeniable hit.

The song I can not hear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal track to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The song that gets me emotional
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The music I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. 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.