The Actor's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Dislikes

The first track I became enamored with
My most primal memory is entering a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first single I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the mini disco 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 purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I perform at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I inexplicably remember all the words to
I not long ago became aware that I can recall pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal song to put on at a soirée
It depends on which phase of the party you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can never hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

The track that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The piece that gets me emotional
Virtually any music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and pure beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.

The track 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 laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.