John Simm's Honest Playlist: From Early Loves to Unexplained Dislikes

The earliest tune I fell in love with
My first memory is entering a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first record I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party 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 purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I inexplicably know every lyric to
I just realised that I have memorized almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best tune to put on at a soirée
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, 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 the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can no longer hear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate song to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, 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 electrifying rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.

The tune that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The piece that brings me to tears
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and pure brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.

The music I’d like to be played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.