🔗 Share this article

The initial track I fell in love with
My first recollection is stepping into a space at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I bought
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I do at sing-along
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I inexplicably recite every lyric to
I recently discovered that I have memorized almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal song to play at a soirée
It relies on what stage of the event you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

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

The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly 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. The moment he dropped the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.

The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The track that makes me cry
All music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and pure perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.

The music I’d like played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.