The Actor's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes

The first track I fell in love with
My first memory is walking into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I recall believing: “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 new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 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 karaoke
I frankly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I strangely know all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect track to play at a party
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The number I can no longer bear
I inexplicably loathe 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 altered my perspective
When I was twelve and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The track that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.

The song I’d like performed 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.