Inspiration was drawn from jazz fusion, krautrock, Ennio Morricone, The Beatles and The Beach Boys. OK Computer sees Radiohead lay down the experimental sound that would shape much of their future output. Following mixing sessions at Abbey Road Studios in early 1997, the album was complete.

Radiohead found they were able to work spontaneously, with many of Yorke’s first takes making it onto the album, much of which was recorded live. Using Exit Music as a template for the direction of OK Computer, Radiohead travelled to Bath in September and began recording at St Catherine’s Court, a sprawling mansion with several rooms they would ultimately record in. The result was Exit Music (For a Film), the first of OK Computer’s tracks to be completed. While in the US they were approached by filmmaker Baz Luhrman, who wanted them to record a song for his film Romeo + Juliet. After struggling to get their ideas on tape, the band set off on a US tour with four new songs added to their repertoire. In July 1996 they began rehearsing and recording at their Canned Applause Studio in Oxfordshire. The band decided to self-produce OK Computer with Godrich. Lucky was recorded in just five hours with engineer Nigel Godrich, and the band felt good about their work with Godrich. The foundation for what would become OK Computer was laid when they recorded a track, Lucky, for Brian Eno’s charity compilation The Help Album. Frontman Thom Yorke said he wanted to avoid making “ another miserable, morbid and negative record.” The album is presented in full with no commercials or interruptions.įollowing their introspective and downbeat second album, 1995’s The Bends, Radiohead wanted to move in a more upbeat direction for their third album. Tonight (February 14th) on the world famous Classic Album at Midnight on Radio Nova we’re playing Radiohead’s OK Computer.

Ok computer radiohead album