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The first track I was captivated by
My earliest memory is entering a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
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 Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I oddly recite all the words to
I not long ago became aware that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal track to play at a soirée
It relies on the point of the party you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can not bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best song to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, 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 rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and utter perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The track I’d like played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.