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The first track I fell in love with
My most primal recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store 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 track I perform at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

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

The perfect song to play at a party
It depends on what stage of the evening 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 transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can no longer hear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon 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. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The piece that makes me cry
All music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.

The song I’d like to be played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.