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The earliest tune I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first record I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I perform at sing-along
I frankly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly know each line to
I recently discovered that I know virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal track to play at a soirée
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 the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can not bear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the record on the record player, I was hooked.

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

The song that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord consistently.

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