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

The earliest track I fell in love with
My most primal recollection is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money 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 selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I perform at sing-along
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I oddly recite each line to
I just became aware that I know virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect track to play at a soirée
It depends on the point of the event you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The number I can never listen to
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and starting to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The piece that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The music I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.