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

The first track I became enamored with
My most primal recollection is walking into a space at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. 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 topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I honestly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I strangely recite all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I can recall almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal tune to blast at a gathering
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The song I can not listen to
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal track to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The piece that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and sheer perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The track I’d like performed at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.