John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes

The earliest track I was captivated by
My first recollection is stepping into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a new record 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 Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I do at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I strangely know each line to
I recently became aware that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect track to put on at a soirée
It hinges on which phase of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can no longer bear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The song that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The song that gets me emotional
All music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The track I’d like to be played at my funeral
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.