The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes

The earliest track I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is entering a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first single I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I do at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I inexplicably remember all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I have memorized almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect track to put on at a soirée
It hinges on the point 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 really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The song I can no longer listen to
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best song to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

The track that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The song that gets me emotional
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.

The music I’d like to be played 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.