🔗 Share this article

The initial song I fell in love with
My most primal recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I perform at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I inexplicably remember all the words to
I not long ago became aware that I have memorized virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect song to play at a gathering
It relies on what stage 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 evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and 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 song I can not listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The song that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.

The song I’d like performed at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.