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The earliest song I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is entering a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at sing-along
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 piece I inexplicably recite each line to
I recently became aware that I have memorized pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best track to play at a party
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely 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 the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The track I can no longer hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate track to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, 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 placed the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The song that gets me emotional
Most music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going every time.

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