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The earliest tune I fell in love with
My earliest memory is walking into a space at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I do at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I strangely recite every lyric to
I just discovered that I can recall virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect song to blast at a party
It relies on what stage of the evening you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can not bear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal piece to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that transformed me
When I was twelve and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

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

The track that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.

The music I’d like played at my funeral
The King. 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.