John Simm's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The first tune I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I do at sing-along
I honestly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The song I strangely know all the words to
I just discovered that I know almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect track to blast at a gathering
It depends on which phase of the event you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The number I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and starting to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.
The tune that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The piece that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.
The track I’d like played at my funeral
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.
