The Actor's Honest Playlist: From Early Favorites to Peculiar 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 Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a new record 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 single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly recite every lyric to
I just became aware that I can recall virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal tune to play at a gathering
It relies on which phase 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 party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can never listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the record on the turntable, 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 song that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The song I’d like to be played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.