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The first song I became enamored with
My earliest memory is walking into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. 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 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 selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I sing at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I strangely remember every lyric to
I recently discovered that I know virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect track to play at a party
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can never bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The track that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The music I’d like to be played at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.