Paul McCartney Album: “Thrillington”

Description :

Personnel includes: Richard Hewson (conductor). <p>Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England. <p>Originally released in 1977, THRILLINGTON is perhaps the most obscure album to be issued by a former Beatle. It's safe to assume that part of the reason why this album has received so little attention is that Paul McCartney does not even appear on the recording. The origins of THRILLINGTON date back to 1971, when McCartney hired English arranger/conductor Richard Hewson to record an orchestral version of McCartney's recently released RAM album. <p>Though Hewson quickly composed and recorded a delightfully eclectic interpretation of RAM, the results were not released until 1977, when the recordings were issued under the fictitious artist name of Percy "Thrills" Thrillington, who, as the story went, was an Irish bandleader signed to McCartney's production company. While the album was not a commercial success, it does feature some lovely music, including jazzy versions of McCartney compositions like "Dear Boy" and "Smile Away" and a big pop production number of "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" that will be of interest to both McCartney fans and aficionados of kitschy, lounge-oriented instrumental music.

I would be pretty sure than paul is playing drums, almost certainly bass, some guitar, piano and probably some band instruments. The strength of this album is that it's different. My favorite McCartney moments are when he's not scared to be someone other than Beatle Paul. He's been there , done that. I mean how can Mick Jagger and the boys continue to do the same thing over and over?

Ram is my favorite album by any artist, ever. These instrumental versions are nothing but fun. As a musician, I can identify trademark styles. Paul is not a great drummer but, boy, was he having fun on this album.

Next time you here this album, assume Paul is playing some of those crazy bass lines and pounding the drums. [With a bit of a glow on, I would think]

I just heard of this the other day. While I am a big Beatles fan, this one slipped by me.

I love Ram, happen to think it is Paul's best solo album. So I like this instrumental version, done in large part by the guy who did arrangements for Those Were the Days by Mary Hopkin, and Let It Be. Paul asked him to do a big band version of Ram in 1971 when Ram came out, but it wasn't released until 1977.

This big band version is kind of shmaltzy, kind of jazzy, kind of old-time jazzy.

If you like this kind of music and if you like Ram, you will probably like this.

Paul McCartney had everything to do with this recording.

He wrote the songs, he got the musicians together, he produced the album. Just because some people are disappointed, that does not mean it is not a McCartney album. This a definately a Paul McCartney album. If you like "Ram", then get "Thrillington".

I am a die hard Beatle music and McCartney music fan.

Don't tell me to pass this recording by. It is a must have for McCartney music fans. Oh yes, it is good music too.

Get this album and enjoy, you will never regret it.

All you need is love.

I truly didn't know what to expect when I bought "Thrillington" but when I played it for the first time I was amazed!! Only Paul McCartney could do something like this!! It's Burt Bacharach meets Martin Denny meets Arthur Feildler over a case of Irish whiskey! It's a demented lounge/bong party! It's so wild that it's truly wonderful!! Put on your smoking jacket and mix yourself a cocktail....make that several cocktails with a healthy dose of Monkberry Moon Delight!! You've been warned!!

To correct the poster below, Paul doesn't play or sing on this album recorded in 1971 at all but that shouldn't keep you from discovering this lost gem. Do a search on Google for Thrillington and Hurwitz to find the complete information on Percy. And to read the first hand accounts on the sessions and how Paul only supervised.