Bought an obscure Wings album off a friend, Denny Laine's "Holly Days", a Buddy Holly covers album featuring Paul and Linda McCartney. It was reissued on the French Magic label, 24 bit remastered. It's a simple four track production, in the spirit of Buddy Holly and the Crickets. It's very old school, but still with an unmistakable "Wings" touch, a little more rocking than Buddy Holly.



Product Description
French release of Buddy Holly covers for the British guitarist who's worked with the Moody Blues and Wings. 10 tracks produced by Paul McCartney. 2000 release. Digipak.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004ZE8I/?tag=imwan-20

I heard about this. I think it came out after Sir Paul purchased the publishing rights to Buddy Holly's catalogue.

Here's another one. Produced by Paul; all but one of the songs either written or co-written by Paul; Linda, Denny & Jimmy McCullough also appear on the album. One of the great overlooked pop-rock LPs of the '70's: McGear by Paul's brother Mike.



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000008IB6/?tag=imwan-20

Sir Paul's brother, Mike McGear, was a member of the group Scaffold, which scored a few UK hit singles during the late 60s, including the #1 "Lily the Pink." Besides the McGear album mentioned by Fraxon!, he released a couple of other albums under his own name, but with little or no input from his famous brother. They're all long OOP on CD.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000011WV/?tag=imwan-20


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R917F6/?tag=imwan-20

Addendum: It looks like McGear's Woman is about to be reissued in Japan:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001V7DKB2/?tag=imwan-20

Thrillington is a 1977 album by Paul McCartney, under the pseudonym of Percy "Thrills" Thrillington. [lilred]The album is an instrumental cover version of Paul and Linda McCartney's 1971 album, Ram.[/lilred] 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.

All songs by Paul and/or Linda McCartney.

"Too Many People" - 4:31
"3 Legs" - 3:41
"Ram On" - 2:49
"Dear Boy" - 2:50
"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" - 4:56
"Smile Away" - 4:39
"Heart Of The Country" - 2:27
"Monkberry Moon Delight" - 4:36
"Eat At Home" - 3:28
"Long Haired Lady" - 5:44
"Back Seat Of My Car" - 4:51

I LOVE the Thrillington album! If you've never heard it, though, be warned: It's VERY "muzak-y"

I'd like to think it's Paul's answer to John's "The sound you make is muzak to my ears" line from "How Do You Sleep?". Like, after hearing that, Paul said "Oh you want muzak? I'll GIVE you muzak!"

McGough, in this case, is McGear's Scaffold-mate Roger McGough, who had that brilliant bit in All You Need is Cash.

Narrator: Did you know the Rutles?
McGough: Oh, yes. I...
Narrator: And there you have it!

Holly Days was my first in depth experience with the music of Buddy Holly. I'd heard covers of his songs one at a time, but this was the first time I got to hear his music in one place. I still have my vinyl copy of this album. It's come out on CD in a few different covers. Anyway, this album turned me on to Buddy and now I have lots of his recordings.

I have the Thrillington and McGear albums on CD, too. Good fun, but they didn't change my life in the way Holly Days did.