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.