John Simm's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions

The initial tune I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is entering a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I strangely know every lyric to
I just discovered that I can recall almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect tune to put on at a party
It relies on which phase of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The track I can never listen to
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played 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 placed the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.

The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and pure beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.

The music I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. 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.