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The first tune I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is stepping into a room at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to select a new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I do at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I inexplicably recite each line to
I recently 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 best tune to play at a party
It depends on the point of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can no longer hear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The tune that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The song that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and utter perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.

The music I’d like performed 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.