Thrillington

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 wife
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 went
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
November 27, 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.