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The first song I became enamored with
My first memory is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I strangely know every lyric to
I just became aware that I have memorized pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect track to put on at a gathering
It depends on what stage 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 party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can not hear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal piece to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.

The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The piece that gets me emotional
All music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and pure perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.

The music I’d like to be played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.