Snapshots Spillover - More Songs About Girls With The First Initial P

Paloma Faith introduces our final selection of songs about ladies whose name begins with P, giving me an excuse to play another tune we used to perform in my brass band days...

George Baker Selection - Paloma Blanca

No, we weren't going with the Jonathan King version.

Before we go any further, I will admit that I couldn't find any songs addressed to Prunella... but I did find a band named after everyone's favourite Sybil...

Prunella Scales - When

These guys were obvious contenders for the weekend's countdown, but I struggled to come up with another clue for them, beyond ones I've used before...

Scritti Politti - Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)

Meanwhile, here's an old Namesakes favourite...

The Cortinas - Phoebe's Flower Shop

There are some girls named after the capital of France... which led me to think of this...

Style Council -  Paris Match

Although this might have been more appropriate...

Morrissey - I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris

Here are some more I didn't have room for...

Paul & Paula - Hey Paula

I fear that would have given away the link too obviously.

Miranda Lambert - Priscilla

Miranda was bumped at the last second for Annie Lennox.

Terry Noland - Patty Baby

Guns N' Roses - Patience

...or I might even have gone with this...

Take That - Patience

Don't judge me. That's one of their better offerings. If The Verve had recorded that song (and I can hear Richard Ashcroft singing it), we'd be calling it a classic. Much as I dislike Gary Barlow, he can write the odd decent pop tune.

The Peppers - Pepper Box

Classics IV - Pollyanna

The Flaming Groovies - Blues From Phyllis

And a couple of favourites to finish with...

Namesakes #2: The Cortinas

In last week's public vote, the choice was between 60s prog-psych-baroque-concept album chin-scratchers Nirvana and another band with the same name. And the winner was... Nirvana!

(I wonder if that joke will ever get tired. Let's see.)

(Actually, as I write this, the result is a draw. Which is a bit of a shock. Then again, only four people voted. Which is less of a shock.)

This week, we have a bunch of Cortinas. But not the one of the ones above, because they never released any records. Although my dad did drive a fair few of them in his day. It's very likely I was driven home from the hospital in a Ford Cortina, making it the first car I ever travelled in. Probably. 

THE CORTINAS #1

Let's start with this bunch, who formed in 1963 but didn't release their one solitary single until 1968. Soon after, they changed their name... to what, we'll discover next week. The band were led by Paul Griggs, who in later years would support Frank Sinatra as a member of Guys n Dolls, and also wrote 1986 Song For Europe contender I'm Sorry, sung by Chad Brown. (It's worth watching that clip, just for ten seconds of Terry.) 

THE CORTINAS #2

Next up we have some Bristol punks, active between '76 and '78. Iffypedia says, "The band developed a large and enthusiastic following in their hometown. Unfortunately, their growing popularity began to attract a great deal of crowd trouble." Bloody punks. Downfall of civilised society, etc. etc. 

This is their debut single, which Mojo says is one of the best punk singles ever. But what do Mojo know?

Just a heads up: this won't be the last we hear of these guys, as they have an excellent entry for the Celebrity Jukebox, as soon as I can get to it.

THE COURTEENERS (#3)

As discussed last week, homophones are allowed on this feature, so you'll just have to deal with that.

Not to sway the voting one way or another, but this lot are by far my favourites this week, even though their lead singer is a bit of an arse. (I've seen them live, so I can verify this firsthand.) Still, he is called Liam, and he is from the North West, so it probably goes with the territory, And he's not half as much of an arse as that other famous Liam from the North West. 

Sam loves this song, mostly for the cheeky chorus: What took you so long - was there a queue at the Post Office? (Of course there was: they're all on strike. And good on 'em, etc. etc.)

Vote now for your favourite!