John Simm's Revealing Playlist: From Early Loves to Unexplained Aversions

The first track I became enamored with
My first recollection is walking into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably recite all the words to
I not long ago realised 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 best song to put on at a gathering
It relies on what stage of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can not listen to
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was hooked.

The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The track that gets me emotional
All music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and pure beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.

The music I’d like to be 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.