John Simm's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Dislikes
The earliest tune I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by 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 selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I do at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I oddly recite each line to
I just realised that I know virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best song to play at a party
It depends on which phase of the event you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.
The track I can not listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The song that makes me cry
All music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and pure perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.
The music I’d like to be played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
