No it was the much maligned Mr Reid ( aka 'Flasher') at the Bishop Bell school in Eastbourne. The irony was that years later that pupil became a teacher!
On reflection I recall that the song that first got me into them was 5 Minutes and whilst still struggling to pick a fave track surely...
Really difficult to pin it down to one down to one track. However, you have nailed with reference to that 'grunt' bass note. People often bang on about legendary lead/rhythm guitar tones but JJB's bass is an absolute classic. And of course that tone with combined with Greenfield's Hammond organ...