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The initial song I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a 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 record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I sing at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly remember every lyric to
I recently realised that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best song to blast at a gathering
It hinges on the point of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can no longer hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The track that brings me to tears
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The song I’d like played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.