🔗 Share this article

The first track I fell in love with
My first recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I do at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I strangely recite every lyric to
I recently became aware that I have memorized almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal track to put on at a soirée
It depends on which phase of the evening you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can never listen to
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best track to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was captivated.

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

The piece that gets me emotional
Virtually any music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and pure beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

The song 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 laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.