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The earliest track I was captivated by
My earliest memory is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher 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 Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I sing at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I inexplicably recite all the words to
I not long ago became aware that I have memorized almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect song to blast at a party
It relies on which phase of the event you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can never bear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The music I’d like performed at my funeral
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.