🔗 Share this article

The first song I was captivated by
My first memory is walking into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I inexplicably recite all the words to
I just discovered that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal track to put on at a gathering
It depends on the point of the party you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can not listen to
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best track to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with 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 powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The piece that makes me cry
All music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and sheer perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going consistently.

The music I’d like to be played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.