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The initial track I became enamored with
My first memory is stepping into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party 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 allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

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

The song I oddly remember each line to
I just realised that I know almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal song to put on at a soirée
It relies on the point of the evening you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The song I can not listen to
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he placed the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

The song that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The track that gets me emotional
Most music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

The track I’d like to be played at my memorial service
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.