🔗 Share this article John Simm's Candid Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Peculiar Aversions The initial tune I became enamored withMy most primal memory is walking into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!” The inaugural 45 I purchasedWhen I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles. The song I do at karaokeI honestly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra. The piece I strangely remember all the words toI just realised that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon. The perfect track to play at a gatheringIt depends on what stage of the party you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, 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 song I can not listen toI for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers. The ideal song to have sex toCome Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo. The album that altered my perspectiveWhen I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early 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 childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was captivated. The song that gets me up in the AMWhat’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles. The piece that makes me cryMost music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and pure perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently. The track I’d like played at my final send-offThe 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.