🔗 Share this article John Simm's Honest Playlist: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes The first track I became enamored withMy earliest recollection is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!” The inaugural record I acquiredWhen I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group 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 chose it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles. The track I sing at karaokeI candidly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra. The piece I oddly know all the words toI just became aware 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 song to play at a gatheringIt depends on the point of the party you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger. The song I can no longer bearI inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band. The best track to make love toCome Together by the Beatles. The LP that altered my perspectiveWhen I was twelve and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he put the record on the record player, I was hooked. The track that gets me up in the AMWhat’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius. The song that makes me cryAll music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord consistently. The music I’d like performed at my memorial serviceThe King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.