The Actor's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions

The earliest tune I became enamored with
My most primal memory is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by 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 Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I strangely recite each line to
I not long ago realised that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal tune to put on at a soirée
It relies on the point of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The track I can not hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate track to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that transformed me
When I was twelve and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The song that makes me cry
All music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.

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