MY SIX BEST ALBUMS

JON CULSHAW, 49, is an impressionist known for Spitting Image and Dead Ringers. He is touring until the end of November in The Great British Take Off ( jonculshaw. com) GEORGE MICHAEL: Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1 ( Sony) The depth and feeling he had as a songwriter are captured wonderfully on this. It came out in 1990, during my favourite era. I was doing a show on Viking radio and would include one of these songs many times a week. It was because of George ( and Bon Jovi) that I grew my hair long in my teens, like a huge piece of beige broccoli. THE SMITHS: Hatful Of Hollow ( Warner) I feel very lucky to have been 15 with The Smiths as a backdrop. I love songwriters who think in a different way and have their own voice.

Morrissey is unique in that. I think people going through anxious times relate to him and find great hope. STEVIE WONDER: Songs In The Key Of Life ( Motown) A lot of music now is written for a quick sale but albums like this last for ever. When I looked into his back catalogue there was a wealth of gold. He has wonderful musicianship. You feel so uplifted listening to it. DAVID BOWIE: Hunky Dory ( EMI) Bowie had everything and this was an interesting stage in his career. I first became aware of him with songs like Fashion and Under Pressure, then I started to look back. Life On Mars is my favourite Bowie song. You get a sense of how he would work with lots of theatrics. KATE BUSH: The Whole Story ( EMI) This shows her breadth. She’s wonderfully enigmatic, you can’t quite figure her out. I first saw her on Top Of The Pops in 1978 and remember being quite startled by this woman waving her arms about. I had to put down my Star Wars jigsaw to pay attention. HEAVEN 17: Penthouse And Pavement ( EMI) This heralded in the new synthesised sound of the 1980s. At 12, I felt on the threshold of a new chapter of life and this was part of the soundtrack. It had a real kick about it. When I inherited my older brother’s music centre, this was its inaugural flight.