The Actor's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions
The earliest tune I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, 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 music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I do at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I recently discovered that I know almost every word 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 soirée
It relies on the point of the evening you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The song I can not listen to
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record 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 obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the record on the record player, I was hooked.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.
The music I’d like played at my final send-off
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.