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The earliest song I was captivated by
My first memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor 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 record shop in Lancashire. It was number one 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 karaoke
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I inexplicably recite all the words to
I just discovered that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect track to blast at a party
It depends on which phase 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 transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The track I can not hear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was hooked.

The tune that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The piece that makes me cry
Most music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and pure beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The song I’d like played 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.