Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: Paul McCartney
Engineers: Tony Clark, Alan Parsons
Thrillington, an orchestral version of Paul and Linda McCartney’s 1971 album Ram, was recorded on 15-17 June 1971.
The first session took place on this day. The core band taped the backing tracks for each of the songs during a morning and afternoon session. The strings were recorded in the evening.
The arrangements were by Richard Hewson, who had been given free rein by the McCartneys to rework the Ram songs. Hewson was paid £100 for each song, and conducted the session musicians.
In addition to the 12 Ram songs, Hewson also arranged a version of ‘Oh Woman, Oh Why’, the b-side of Paul McCartney’s debut solo single ‘Another Day’.
The musicians:
- Vic Flick: electric guitar, acoustic guitar
- Herbie Flowers: bass guitar, tuba
- Steve Gray: piano
- Roger Coulan: organ
- Clem Cattini: drums
- Jim Lawless, Chris Karan: percussion
- The Mike Sammes Singers: vocals
- The Swingle Singers: vocals
- Carl Dolmetsch Family: recorders
- Unknown: strings, brass, woodwind
The recordings were mixed on 18 June. Although McCartney was the producer of the sessions, he did not perform at all.
Thrillington was shelved for six years, and eventually released in 1977. It was credited to the pseudonymous Percy ‘Thrills’ Thrillington.