🔗 Share this article

The initial song I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first record I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I oddly remember every lyric to
I recently realised that I have memorized pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal track to play at a party
It relies on the point of the party you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling 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 massive track.

The number I can no longer hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate 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 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. As soon as he dropped 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
Virtually any music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The music I’d like to be played at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.