What song would really accentuate my swagger? ("Stayin' Alive" is the correct answer.)

Record to grab in an emergency: Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello

First record bought: No Jacket Required by Phil Collins

Downey admires the Kings of Leon. "If anything original comes out now, people are stunned," he says. "But if the Kings of Leon came out 25 years ago they would be competing against several other great bands.

I remember staring at the album cover [a picture of a cake made by Delia Smith] and thinking how strange it looked, and how this music had an angelic quality to it," he says. "As it turned out the album's arranger, Jack Nitzsche, knew my dad, and Let It Bleed would be on repeat alongside Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Art Pepper, Charlie Mingus and Artie Shaw. All of them influenced me hugely, but I'm six.

I remember staring at the album cover [a picture of a cake made by Delia Smith] and thinking how strange it looked, and how this music had an angelic quality to it," he says. "As it turned out the album's arranger, Jack Nitzsche, knew my dad, and Let It Bleed would be on repeat alongside Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Art Pepper, Charlie Mingus and Artie Shaw. All of them influenced me hugely, but I'm six.

I remember staring at the album cover [a picture of a cake made by Delia Smith] and thinking how strange it looked, and how this music had an angelic quality to it," he says. "As it turned out the album's arranger, Jack Nitzsche, knew my dad, and Let It Bleed would be on repeat alongside Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Art Pepper, Charlie Mingus and Artie Shaw. All of them influenced me hugely, but I'm six.

I remember staring at the album cover [a picture of a cake made by Delia Smith] and thinking how strange it looked, and how this music had an angelic quality to it," he says. "As it turned out the album's arranger, Jack Nitzsche, knew my dad, and Let It Bleed would be on repeat alongside Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Art Pepper, Charlie Mingus and Artie Shaw. All of them influenced me hugely, but I'm six.

I remember staring at the album cover [a picture of a cake made by Delia Smith] and thinking how strange it looked, and how this music had an angelic quality to it," he says. "As it turned out the album's arranger, Jack Nitzsche, knew my dad, and Let It Bleed would be on repeat alongside Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Art Pepper, Charlie Mingus and Artie Shaw. All of them influenced me hugely, but I'm six.

I remember staring at the album cover [a picture of a cake made by Delia Smith] and thinking how strange it looked, and how this music had an angelic quality to it," he says. "As it turned out the album's arranger, Jack Nitzsche, knew my dad, and Let It Bleed would be on repeat.

Then Downey, bless him, bursts into song — the chorus of "Looks Like We Made It," by Mr. Barry Manilow.

I mean this as a compliment, but your birthday party sounds like a Steely Dan song. How was it? It was … I still only have vague recollections of it, because it was such a mind-blowing affair to see. I can’t even describe my affinity for Steely Dan, Fagen and [Walter] Becker, and each and every person that’s ever played on any of their albums.

I mean this as a compliment, but your birthday party sounds like a Steely Dan song. How was it? It was … I still only have vague recollections of it, because it was such a mind-blowing affair to see. I can’t even describe my affinity for Steely Dan, Fagen and [Walter] Becker, and each and every person that’s ever played on any of their albums.