Mike d’Abo: My six best albums

LOUIS PRIMA: The Call Of The Wildest (Import)

My first hero. His biggest claim to fame is singing King Of The Swingers in The Jungle Book.

My father came home one day in 1956 and said he’d heard this great record so I went out to buy it. It hooked me on happy-golucky, jump-and-jive music.

RAY CHARLES: Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music (Hallmark)

His gospel voice sounded so exciting to me. He took a lot of Hank Williams songs, which were country, and gave them blues and jazzy inflections.

By this time I’d already formed my first group and gone up to Cambridge.

THE BEATLES: Please Please Me (EMI)

The guitarist in our band played Please Please Me in his rooms at Trinity College and I became hooked on The Beatles.

I thought one day I’d join them – a completely absurd thought. But the next best thing happened: I got asked to join Manfred Mann.

CAT STEVENS: Tea For The Tillerman (Polydor)

I got to know Cat quite well because he and I shared the same management.

I think he is the definitive singer-songwriter.

MARVIN GAYE: What’s Going On (Motown)

This was ahead of its time, making us aware of black power.

It was like he was preaching a message that we weren’t quite expecting but we understood it.

STEVIE WONDER: Talking Book (Motown)

A multifaceted talent. He was a massive inspiration.

I tried imitating him on my first solo album, knowing I couldn’t be good enough.