🔗 Share this article

The initial track I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings 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 pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I sing at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I strangely remember every lyric to
I not long ago discovered that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best track to play at a party
It relies on which phase of the party you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, 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 Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and just learning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

The song that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The piece that brings me to tears
All music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.

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