OMD’s Andy McCluskey: My six best albums – David Bowie, Kraftwerk and more

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK: Oklahoma! (Hallmark) My mum had a great collection of cool Sixties singles, which I loved, but the albums she had were by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Before the age of 10, I knew all the words. I used to sing Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’ in a fake American accent. I still sing the songs when I want to annoy my children. 

VELVET UNDERGROUND: The Velvet Underground & Nico (Polydor) My word, was this band influential. I found this when I was a teenager looking for interesting music. It is so simple and rough but Lou Reed’s songs are brilliant. The next generation of the McCluskey family all know this album. 

KRAFTWERK: Radio-Activity (EMI) The most influential album in my life. I heard Autobahn on the radio and it blew me away. Then they came to play in Liverpool. It was September 11, 1975 and I sat in seat Q36. It proved that you could make music out of anything and it became what Paul Humphreys and I wanted to do. 

DAVID BOWIE: Heroes (EMI) One of the few musical artists who infl uenced me. The tracks were mood pieces. I remember listening to it on repeat, huddled under trenchcoats with my girlfriend in my friend’s fl at because we couldn’t afford the gas.

JOY DIVISION: Unknown Pleasures (London) When Paul and I finally dared to play the songs our mates thought were rubbish, the band we played with that night were Joy Division. Producer Martin Hannett turned them into this dark, industrial noise, with Ian Curtis guiding the way. My son became a bass player because of Peter Hook’s playing on this.

THE BLUE NILE: A Walk Across The Rooftops (EMI) The lead singer Paul Buchanan has gorgeously tortured vocals and looks uncannily like my father. I was always on the lookout for what was new and somebody in the record shop said they were great. It still touches me.