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The earliest tune I became enamored with
My first recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

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

The song I inexplicably recite each line to
I just realised that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best song to put on at a party
It relies on the point of the evening you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can no longer hear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The piece that brings me to tears
Most music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

The song I’d like to be played 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.