John Simm's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes

The first track I became enamored with
My first memory is entering a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first single I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's 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 sing-along
I candidly actively avoid public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I oddly remember each line to
I recently realised that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal track to put on at a party
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can never listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate piece to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.

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

The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and sheer perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The song 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 buried, I’ll have Way Down.