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The earliest tune I became enamored with
My earliest recollection is entering a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to choose a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

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

The track I inexplicably know all the words to
I just became aware that I know pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal song to blast at a gathering
It relies on what stage of the evening you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The number I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate song to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the record on the record player, I was captivated.

The song that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard consistently.

The music I’d like to be 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.