The first song I fell in love with
I was going out with this Jamaican girl when we were about 15, and would listen to Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs all the time. We had a daughter together when we were 17 – she’s 35 now and works as a social worker in Bristol – so that song has always stayed with me.The song that makes me cry
Astral Weeks by Van Morrison, because it reminds me of my mum and growing up in Bristol. He sings about his mum dressing him and showing him pictures, and my mum was exactly like that. In every childhood photo I’m in a shirt and tie and looking proper.The first single I bought
I remember getting on the bus from Knowle West into town to buy the Specials album. I was obsessed with the artwork and the sleeve notes. I sat on the bus reading everything on the way home and listened to it for three days straight.The song I know all the lyrics to
I can still rap every word of Check Out My Melody by Eric B and Rakim off the top of my head, 40 years later.The best song to play at a party
