The Actor's Revealing Playlist: From Early Loves to Peculiar Dislikes

The initial song I fell in love with
My most primal recollection is stepping into a space at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance 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 track I sing at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I inexplicably know all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal song to put on at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the evening you are at. For the beginning 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 Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can never listen to
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate piece to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

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

The track that makes me cry
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and utter beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.

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