OK Computer — Radiohead

Released in May 1997 and produced in close collaboration with Nigel Godrich, OK Computer represented an audacious, historic break from the Britpop zeitgeist of the late 1990s. Recorded primarily in the historic ballroom of St Catherine’s Court in Bath, the band abandoned conventional song structures in favor of sprawling, atmospheric arrangements informed by Ennio Morricone film scores, Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew, and krautrock pioneers Can.

From the layered polyrhythms and sleigh bells of "Airbag" to the multi-suite guitar odyssey of "Paranoid Android," the album effortlessly shifts between breathtaking grandeur and harrowing intimacy. Tracks like the celestial, chime-driven "No Surprises," the cathedral-reverb emotional climax of "Let Down," and the robotic, Macintosh-voiced manifesto of "Fitter Happier" articulated the claustrophobia of late-20th-century consumer capitalism. Universally acclaimed upon release, OK Computer stands as one of the most culturally significant and musically influential rock records ever committed to tape.

Pressing Details & Visuals

• Official 2016 XL Recordings Reissue: Manufactured and released after XL Recordings acquired Radiohead’s full back catalog in 2016, returning the landmark release to vinyl with pristine international distribution.

• 180-Gram Heavyweight Vinyl: Pressed across two 180g black vinyl discs with wide groove spacing, giving Nigel Godrich’s rich room acoustics and deep sub-bass textures expansive dynamic breathing room.

• Deluxe Gatefold Presentation: Housed in a heavy-cardstock gatefold jacket featuring matte paper finishes and faithfully reproduced original collage artwork.

• Custom Printed Inner Sleeves: Includes two dedicated printed inner sleeves containing lyrics, collages, and cryptic album credits.

Collector's Note: Following the acquisition of the catalog by XL in 2016 (Catalog: XLLP781), this pressing was manufactured via Optimal Media in Germany. Vinyl enthusiasts widely consider this run a massive upgrade over the notoriously noisy late-2000s Capitol and Parlophone represses, offering a whisper-quiet noise floor that lets the delicate decay of Jonny Greenwood's Mellotron and chime arrangements shine.

Tracklist

• Side 1 (eeny): Airbag | Paranoid Android | Subterranean Homesick Alien

• Side 2 (meeny): Exit Music (For a Film) | Let Down | Karma Police

• Side 3 (miney): Fitter Happier | Electioneering | Climbing Up the Walls | No Surprises

• Side 4 (mo): Lucky | The Tourist

Technical Specifications