The Actor's Revealing Playlist: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The initial track I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is walking into a space at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I do at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I inexplicably recite all the words to
I just became aware that I can recall pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best track to blast at a gathering
It relies on the point of the event you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and 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 massive track.
The number I can never listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best track to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The song that makes me cry
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.
The song I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
