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The earliest song I was captivated by
My most primal memory is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first record I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a brand 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 Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I recently realised that I can recall virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best track to blast at a soirée
It hinges on the point of the event you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can never bear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The track that gets me emotional
Virtually any music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The track I’d like performed at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.