John Simm's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions

The first song I was captivated by
My most primal memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I perform at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I oddly know each line to
I just discovered that I know almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal tune to put on at a party
It relies on which phase of the event you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and David 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 absolute banger.

The number I can never bear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. The moment he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.

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

The piece that makes me cry
Most music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord consistently.

The music I’d like to be played at my final send-off
The King. 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.