The Actor's Honest Playlist: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The first track I became enamored with
My earliest recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first record I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a brand new record 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 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 chose it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I do at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I oddly remember every lyric to
I not long ago discovered that I know pretty much 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 ideal song to put on at a soirée
It relies on the point of the evening you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can never listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The track that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and utter 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
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.