Thrillington
Encyclopedia
Thrillington is a 1977 album by Paul McCartney
, under the pseudonym of Percy "Thrills" Thrillington. The album is an instrumental cover version
of Paul and Linda McCartney
's 1971 album, Ram
. Arranger Richard Hewson
was asked to arrange the orchestration before Ram had yet been released and it was recorded in June 1971—with McCartney as producer—and with an intended release shortly thereafter. Paul and Linda's decision to form Wings
resulted in the album being shelved until 1977.
In preparation for the release of Thrillington, McCartney invented the fictitious socialite Percy Thrillington, and even took out ads in various UK music papers announcing Thrillington's so-called comings and goings to generate curiosity and interest.
Released in April 1977, and with no mention of McCartney's name whatsoever — save in the main liner notes where he is described as a friend of Percy — Thrillington, except for a mention in the Random Notes page of Rolling Stone
magazine, went mostly unnoticed upon its release where it became a sort of collector's item—not a hot one for there was some doubt as to whether Thrillington was really Paul McCartney and the role he played in it. McCartney was never asked about his role in that album until he finally admitted it to journalist Peter Palmiere at a Los Angeles press conference on 27 November 1989 during the second leg of his world tour. McCartney told Palmiere "What a great question to end the conference. The world needs to know! But seriously it was me and Linda—and we kept it a secret for a long time but now the world knows!— you blew it!" After the admission, the album nearly tripled in value.
Paul McCartney in 1990 also admitted to Palmiere via an autograph request that he indeed was Clint Harrigan — the liner notes writer for Thrillington and Paul McCartney and Wings Wild Life album. Oddly enough the first person to reveal the identity of Clint Harrigan was John Lennon
, who stated as much during a well-publicised letter feud in the New Musical Express
in 1972.
"Thrillington" was issued on CD in 1995 and 2004. No accompanying vinyl or cassette version were released. Sales were limited mainly because the actual appeal of the project itself was limited.
The full story of the "Thrillington" album was told in detail in music journalist Ian Peel's book, "The Unknown Paul McCartney" (Reynolds & Hearn, 2002). Peel tracked down various musicians who brought McCartney's vision to life - including Richard Hewson
, Herbie Flowers
and The Mike Sammes Singers
- as well as those that were responsible in creating its mythology.
It is widely, and incorrectly, reported that the Swingle Singers provided backing vocals on this album. It is also noteworthy that the Mike Sammes Singers also made uncredited appearances on several recordings by The Beatles
most famously "Good Night
" and "I Am the Walrus
".
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, under the pseudonym of Percy "Thrills" Thrillington. The album is an instrumental cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Paul and Linda McCartney
Linda McCartney
Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
's 1971 album, Ram
Ram (album)
Ram is an album by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney, released in 1971, the only album credited to the pair. It was the second of the two albums McCartney released between leaving The Beatles and forming Wings...
. Arranger Richard Hewson
Richard Anthony Hewson
Richard Anthony Hewson is an English producer, arranger, conductor and multi-instrumentalist, who is best recognized for his studio group The RAH Band.-Career:...
was asked to arrange the orchestration before Ram had yet been released and it was recorded in June 1971—with McCartney as producer—and with an intended release shortly thereafter. Paul and Linda's decision to form Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
resulted in the album being shelved until 1977.
In preparation for the release of Thrillington, McCartney invented the fictitious socialite Percy Thrillington, and even took out ads in various UK music papers announcing Thrillington's so-called comings and goings to generate curiosity and interest.
Released in April 1977, and with no mention of McCartney's name whatsoever — save in the main liner notes where he is described as a friend of Percy — Thrillington, except for a mention in the Random Notes page of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine, went mostly unnoticed upon its release where it became a sort of collector's item—not a hot one for there was some doubt as to whether Thrillington was really Paul McCartney and the role he played in it. McCartney was never asked about his role in that album until he finally admitted it to journalist Peter Palmiere at a Los Angeles press conference on 27 November 1989 during the second leg of his world tour. McCartney told Palmiere "What a great question to end the conference. The world needs to know! But seriously it was me and Linda—and we kept it a secret for a long time but now the world knows!— you blew it!" After the admission, the album nearly tripled in value.
Paul McCartney in 1990 also admitted to Palmiere via an autograph request that he indeed was Clint Harrigan — the liner notes writer for Thrillington and Paul McCartney and Wings Wild Life album. Oddly enough the first person to reveal the identity of Clint Harrigan was John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, who stated as much during a well-publicised letter feud in the New Musical Express
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
in 1972.
"Thrillington" was issued on CD in 1995 and 2004. No accompanying vinyl or cassette version were released. Sales were limited mainly because the actual appeal of the project itself was limited.
The full story of the "Thrillington" album was told in detail in music journalist Ian Peel's book, "The Unknown Paul McCartney" (Reynolds & Hearn, 2002). Peel tracked down various musicians who brought McCartney's vision to life - including Richard Hewson
Richard Anthony Hewson
Richard Anthony Hewson is an English producer, arranger, conductor and multi-instrumentalist, who is best recognized for his studio group The RAH Band.-Career:...
, Herbie Flowers
Herbie Flowers
Herbie Flowers is an English musician specialising in bass guitar, double-bass and tuba. He is noted as a member of Blue Mink, T...
and The Mike Sammes Singers
Mike Sammes
Michael William "Mike" Sammes was an English musician and vocal session arranger, performing backing vocals on pop music recorded in the UK from 1955 to the 1970s.-Career:...
- as well as those that were responsible in creating its mythology.
Track listing
Personnel
- Richard HewsonRichard Anthony HewsonRichard Anthony Hewson is an English producer, arranger, conductor and multi-instrumentalist, who is best recognized for his studio group The RAH Band.-Career:...
: Conductor - Vic FlickVic FlickVictor Harold Flick is an English guitarist, most famous for playing the guitar riff in the "James Bond Theme".-Biography:...
: Guitars - Herbie FlowersHerbie FlowersHerbie Flowers is an English musician specialising in bass guitar, double-bass and tuba. He is noted as a member of Blue Mink, T...
: Bass guitar - Steve Grey: Piano
- Clem CattiniClem CattiniClem Cattini , is an English rock and roll drummer who was a member of The Tornados before becoming well known for his work as a session musician...
: Drums - Jim Lawless: Percussion
- Chris KaranChris KaranChris Karan is a jazz percussionist, primarily a drummer, of Greek descent from Melbourne. He played in Mike Nock's trio in Sydney in the early 1960s...
: Guica - The Mike Sammes SingersMike SammesMichael William "Mike" Sammes was an English musician and vocal session arranger, performing backing vocals on pop music recorded in the UK from 1955 to the 1970s.-Career:...
: Backing vocals (See Ian Peel The Unknown Paul McCartney, 2002, Reynolds and Hearn, ISBN 1-903111-36-6)
It is widely, and incorrectly, reported that the Swingle Singers provided backing vocals on this album. It is also noteworthy that the Mike Sammes Singers also made uncredited appearances on several recordings by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
most famously "Good Night
Good Night (song)
-External links:*...
" and "I Am the Walrus
I Am the Walrus
"I Am the Walrus" is a 1967 song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. Lennon claimed he wrote the first two lines on separate acid trips. The song was in the Beatles' 1967 television film and album Magical Mystery Tour, and was the B-side to the #1 hit "Hello,...
".
Production
- Percy "Thrills" ThrillingtonPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
: Producer - Richard Hewson: Arranger
- Tony Clark: Engineer
- HipgnosisHipgnosisHipgnosis was a British art design group that specialized in creating cover art for the albums of rock musicians and bands, most notably Pink Floyd, T.Rex, The Pretty Things, UFO, 10cc, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Scorpions, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, ELO and XTC...
: Artwork - Jeff Cummings: Cover art
- Clint Harrigan: Liner Notes
- Phil SmeePhil SmeePhil Smee is an English music journalist, designer and record collector, most widely known for designing music album covers and his Bam-Caruso music label, best known for the Rubble series of albums. One of his more notable designs is the lettering of the Motörhead logo .-External links:...
: Package Design