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The first song I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is entering a room at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the mini disco 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 pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I inexplicably know each line to
I just discovered that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal track to play at a party
It relies on what stage of the evening you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into the Artist, 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 Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can no longer bear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The track that makes me cry
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and utter beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.

The music I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.