🔗 Share this article

The earliest track I became enamored with
My first memory is entering a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one 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 sing-along
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I strangely recite all the words to
I not long ago realised that I can recall almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal track to play at a party
It depends on the point of the event you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can never listen to
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was captivated.

The song that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The song that brings me to tears
All music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and pure brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord without fail.

The music I’d like performed at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.