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The earliest tune I was captivated by
My first recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and John 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 vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for 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 music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I strangely recite every lyric to
I not long ago became aware that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best tune to play at a gathering
It relies on which phase of the party you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David 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 absolute banger.

The song I can no longer listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The piece that makes me cry
Most music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard consistently.

The music I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.