The Actor's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Dislikes
The first track I was captivated by
My earliest memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The very first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. 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 pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I oddly know every lyric to
I recently discovered that I can recall almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best tune to put on at a gathering
It relies on what stage of the evening you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The track I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate song to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he put the record on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and utter brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.
The music I’d like to be played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.