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The earliest song I was captivated by
My most primal memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first record I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at karaoke
I frankly actively avoid karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I oddly recite every lyric to
I just became aware that I have memorized almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect track to blast at a gathering
It hinges on what stage of the evening 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 transition into Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can never listen to
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was hooked.

The tune that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The piece that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The music I’d like played 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.