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The earliest tune I fell in love with
My first recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first single I acquired
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to select a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. 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 sing at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

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

The perfect track to blast at a gathering
It relies on what stage of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can no longer bear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

The song that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The song that makes me cry
All music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.

The music 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 buried, I’ll have Way Down.