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OK Computer

OK Computer is an album by the band Radiohead. It was released in 1997.[1] It reached No.1 in the UK Albums Chart. Four singles were released from it. "Paranoid Android" reached No.3 in the UK. "No Surprises" reached No.4. It got good reviews. Pitchfork gave it 10 out of 10.[2]

OK Computer
Studio album by
Radiohead
ReleasedJune 16, 1997 (1997-06-16)
Recorded
  • September 4, 1995 ("Lucky")
  • July 1996 – March 1997
Studio
Genre
Length53:21
Label
ProducerNigel Godrich
Radiohead chronology
The Bends
(1995) 		OK Computer
(1997) 		Airbag / How Am I Driving?
(1998)
{{{This album}}}
Singles from OK Computer
  1. "Paranoid Android"
    Released: May 26, 1997
  2. "Karma Police"
    Released: August 25, 1997
  3. "Lucky"
    Released: December 1997
  4. "No Surprises"
    Released: January 12, 1998
  5. "Airbag"
    Released: March 24, 1998

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
Chicago Tribune    [4]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[5]
The Guardian     [6]
NME10/10[7]
Pitchfork Media10/10[8]
Q     [9]
Rolling Stone     [10]
Spin8/10[11]
The Village VoiceB−[12]

Many music writers and fans loved OK Computer. Both English and American writers said the album would be important for a long time,[13][14] and that the album was new and interesting. It was compared to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, another famous and important album. In the English press, the album got good reviews in NME,[7] Melody Maker,[15] The Guardian,[6] and Q.[9] In North America, Rolling Stone,[10] Spin,[11] and Pitchfork Media[8] published good reviews. In The New Yorker, Alex Ross compared Radiohead's new and artistic music to the more classic rock sounds of Oasis. Ross wrote that "this band has pulled off one of the great art-pop balancing acts in the history of rock."[16]

However, not all critics enjoyed the record. Robert Christgau from The Village Voice called it "arid" art rock.[12]

The album appeared in many 1997 critics' lists and listener polls for best album of the year. Many magazines listed it as the best or second best of the year. It was a nominee for the 1997 Mercury Prize, a prestigious award recognising the best British or Irish album of the year.[17]

Radiohead found it hard to deal with how much people liked OK Computer. Some members of the band thought the press loved it too much. The band did not like that their songs were called "art" when they thought their songs were pop music. However, singer Thom Yorke was happy that some people understood his musical goals: "People got all the things, all the textures and the sounds and the atmospheres we were trying to create."[18]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Radiohead (Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Jonny Greenwood, Philip Selway, and Thom Yorke). 

No. Title Length
1. "Airbag"   4:44
2. "Paranoid Android"   6:23
3. "Subterranean Homesick Alien"   4:27
4. "Exit Music (For a Film)"   4:24
5. "Let Down"   4:59
6. "Karma Police"   4:21
7. "Fitter Happier"   1:57
8. "Electioneering"   3:50
9. "Climbing Up the Walls"   4:45
10. "No Surprises"   3:48
11. "Lucky"   4:19
12. "The Tourist"   5:24

Personnel

Radiohead
Additional personnel

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1997-2017) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[21] 7
Austrian Albums Chart[22] 13
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[23] 1
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[23] 3
Canadian RPM Albums Chart[24] 2
Dutch Albums Chart[25] 2
French Albums Chart[26] 3
German Albums Chart[27] 27
Irish Albums Chart[28] 2
New Zealand Albums Chart[29] 1
Spanish Albums Chart[30] 42
Swedish Albums Chart[31] 3
Swiss Albums Chart[32] 40
UK Albums (OCC)[33] 1
US Billboard 200[34] 21

Singles

Year Song Peak positions
UK
[35]		 US Mod
[36]		 NZ
[37]		 AUS
[38]		 SWE
[39]		 NL
[40]
1997 "Paranoid Android" 3 – – 29 53 61
"Let Down" – 29 – – – –
"Karma Police" 8 14 32 – – 50
1998 "No Surprises" 4 – 23 47 – 58
"–" denotes releases that did not chart.

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[41] Platinum 60,000^
Australia (ARIA)[42] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[43] 2× Platinum Expression error: Missing operand for *.*
Canada (Music Canada)[44] 4× Platinum 400,000 
France (SNEP)[46] 2× Gold 321,500[45]
Italy (FIMI)[47] Platinum 100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[48] Gold 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[49] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RIANZ)[50] Platinum 15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[51] Gold 25,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[52] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[53] Gold 40,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[54] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] 5× Platinum 1,579,415[55]
United States (RIAA)[57] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[58] 3× Platinum 3,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

OK Computer Media

Notes

Footnotes

Citations

  1. ↑ "OK Computer". Allmusic. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Radiohead: OK Computer: Pitchfork Review". Archived from the original on March 3, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  3. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "OK Computer – Radiohead". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  4. ↑ Kot, Greg. ""Radiohead OK Computer"". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  5. ↑ Browne, David. ""OK Computer"". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sullivan, Caroline (June 13, 1997), "Aching Heads", The Guardian
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Oldham, James (June 14, 1997), "The Rise and Rise of the ROM Empire", NME
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Schreiber, Ryan (December 31, 1997), "Radiohead: OK Computer: Pitchfork Review", Pitchfork Media, archived from the original on March 3, 2001, retrieved May 16, 2009
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cavanagh, David (July 1997), "Moonstruck", Q
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kemp, Mark (July 10, 1997), "OK Computer : Radiohead : Review", Rolling Stone, archived from the original on January 17, 2011, retrieved September 29, 2008
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Walters, Barry (August 1997), "Radiohead: OK Computer: Capitol", Spin
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Christgau, Robert (September 23, 1997), "Consumer Guide Sept. 1997", The Village Voice, archived from the original on August 6, 2011, retrieved August 4, 2016
  13. ↑ Footman 2007, pp. 181–182.
  14. ↑ Clarke 2010, p. 121.
  15. ↑ Parkes, Taylor (June 14, 1997), "Review of OK Computer", Melody Maker
  16. ↑ Ross, Alex (September 29, 1997), "Dadrock", The New Yorker, retrieved September 29, 2008
  17. ↑ Mercury Prize 2008: The nominees. BBC News. July 22, 2008. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. https://www.webcitation.org/60j3jj3kL?url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7519452.stm. Retrieved August 4, 2016. 
  18. ↑ Gill, Andy (October 5, 2007), "Ok computer: Why the record industry is terrified of Radiohead's new album", The Independent, archived from the original on August 6, 2011, retrieved August 31, 2017
  19. ↑ {{cite web|date=January 15, 2009|title=Radiohead’s First Three Albums Reissued With Extras|url=https://www.spin.com/2009/01/radioheads-first-three-albums-reissued-extras/%7Caccess-date=November 13, 2022|magazine=Spin
  20. ↑ {{cite web|date=January 15, 2009|title=Radiohead’s First Three Albums Reissued With Extras|url=https://www.spin.com/2009/01/radioheads-first-three-albums-reissued-extras/%7Caccess-date=November 13, 2022|magazine=Spin
  21. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Radiohead – OK Computer". Ultratop.be. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs", RPM, vol. 65, no. 17, June 30, 1997, archived from the original on January 4, 2012
  25. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Lescharts.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Chartverfolgung / Radiohead / Longplay". musicline.de. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  28. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Recorded Music Association".
  29. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Charts.org.nz. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Spanishcharts.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Radiohead | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  34. ↑ Illegal name entered radiohead/radiohead/chart "Artist Chart History – Radiohead". Billboard. Archived from Illegal name entered radiohead/radiohead/chart the original on March 30, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090330231836/http://www.billboard.com/artist/Illegal name entered radiohead/radiohead/chart. Retrieved September 30, 2008. 
  35. ↑ "Radiohead – The Official Charts Company".
  36. ↑ Illegal name entered radiohead/radiohead/chart "Artist Chart History – Radiohead". Billboard. Archived from Illegal name entered radiohead/radiohead/chart the original on June 16, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090616164309/http://www.billboard.com/artist/Illegal name entered radiohead/radiohead/chart. 
  37. ↑ "Search: Radiohead". Charts.org.nz. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  38. ↑ "Search: Radiohead". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  39. ↑ "Search: Radiohead". Swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  40. ↑ "Eenvoudige zoekopdracht: Radiohead". Dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Discos de Oro y Platino" (in Spanish). CAPIF. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  42. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  43. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2007". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  44. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer". Music Canada.
  45. ↑ "InfoDisc : Les Meilleurs Ventes d'Albums "Tout Temps" (33 T. / Cd / Téléchargement)".
  46. ↑ "French album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  47. ↑ "Italian album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer" (PDF) (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  48. ↑ "RIAJ > The Record > June 1998 > Certified Awards (April 1998)" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 2, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  49. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  50. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
  51. ↑ "Norwegian album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  52. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados > 1995–1999. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 978-84-8048-639-2.
  53. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  54. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Radiohead; 'OK Computer')". Hung Medien.
  55. ↑ Jones, Alan (June 30, 2017). "Official Charts Analysis: Ed Sheeran's ÷ returns to No.1 following Glastonbury appearance". Music Week (Intent Media). http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-ed-sheeran-s-returns-to-no-1-following-glastonbury-appearance/068989. Retrieved February 22, 2019. "The first of six No. 1 albums for Radiohead, OK Computer debuted atop the chart this week in 1997 on sales of 136,476 copies, and is the Oxfordshire band's biggest seller, with a to-date tally of 1,579,415 including 16,172 from sales-equivalent streams.". 
  56. ↑ "British album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer". British Phonographic Industry. Enter OK Computer in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  57. ↑ "American album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  58. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2006". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
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