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The first track I became enamored with
My first recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a 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 Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I perform at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I recently realised that I can recall pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best tune to play at a party
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can not hear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate song to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

The track that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The piece that gets me emotional
Virtually any music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.

The track I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.