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The first song I was captivated by
My first memory is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out 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 music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I do at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I oddly know all the words to
I recently became aware that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect tune to blast at a gathering
It relies on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The track I can not hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he placed the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

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

The song that gets me emotional
Most music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The song I’d like to be played at my memorial service
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.