Editing OK Computer (section)

==Background==
[[File:Thom yorke radiohead2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Thom Yorke]] (pictured in 2001) and the band sought a less introspective direction than previous album ''[[The Bends (album)|The Bends]]''.<ref name="CANTIN"/><ref name="RICHARDSON"/>]]

In 1995, Radiohead toured in support of their second album, ''[[The Bends (album)|The Bends]]'' (1995). Midway through the tour, [[Brian Eno]] commissioned them to contribute a song to ''[[The Help Album]]'', a [[charity record|charity compilation]] organised by [[War Child (charity)|War Child]]; the album was to be recorded over the course of a single day, 4 September 1995, and rush-released that week.{{sfn|Footman|2007|p=113}} Radiohead recorded "[[Lucky (Radiohead song)|Lucky]]" in five hours with [[Nigel Godrich]], who had engineered ''The Bends'' and produced several Radiohead [[A-side and B-side|B-sides]].<ref name="IRVIN"/> Godrich said of the session: "Those things are the most inspiring, when you do stuff really fast and there's nothing to lose. We left feeling fairly euphoric. So after establishing a bit of a rapport work-wise, I was sort of hoping I would be involved with the next album."<ref name="The Mix">{{citation
 | first = Andrea
 | last = Robinson
 | title = Nigel Godrich
 | date = August 1997
 | magazine = The Mix}}</ref> The singer, [[Thom Yorke]], said "Lucky" shaped the nascent sound and mood of their upcoming record:<ref name="IRVIN"/> {{"'}}Lucky' was indicative of what we wanted to do. It was like the first mark on the wall."{{sfn|Randall|2000|p=161}}

Radiohead found touring stressful and took a break in January 1996.{{sfn|Footman|2007|p=33}} They sought to move away from the introspective style of ''The Bends''. The drummer, [[Philip Selway]], said: "There was an awful lot of soul-searching [on ''The Bends'']. To do that again on another album would be excruciatingly boring."<ref name="CANTIN"/> Yorke said he did not want to do "another miserable, morbid and negative record", and was "writing down all the positive things that I hear or see. I'm not able to put them into music yet and I don't want to just force it."<ref name="RICHARDSON">{{citation
 | first = Andy
 | last = Richardson
 | title = Boom! Shake the Gloom!
 | date = 9 December 1995
| magazine = [[NME]]
}}</ref>

The critical and commercial success of ''The Bends'' gave Radiohead the confidence to self-produce their third album.<ref name="IRVIN" /> Their label, [[Parlophone]], gave them a £100,000 budget for recording equipment.<ref name="CAVANAGH"/><ref name="DALTON UNCUT">{{citation
 | first = Stephen
 | last = Dalton
 | title = How to Disappear Completely
 | date = August 2001
 | magazine = [[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]}}</ref> The lead guitarist, [[Jonny Greenwood]], said "the only concept that we had for this album was that we wanted to record it away from the city and that we wanted to record it ourselves".<ref name="GLOVER">
{{citation
 | last = Glover
 | first = Arian
 | title = Radiohead—Getting More Respect.
 | magazine = [[Circus (magazine)|Circus]]
 | date = 1 August 1998
}}</ref> According to the guitarist [[Ed O'Brien]], "Everyone said, 'You'll sell six or seven million if you bring out ''The Bends Pt 2'',' and we're like, 'We'll kick against that and do the opposite'."<ref>''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'', January 2003</ref> A number of producers were suggested, including major figures such as [[Scott Litt]],{{sfn|Footman|2007|p=34}} but Radiohead were encouraged by their sessions with Godrich.{{sfn|Randall|2000|p=189}} They consulted him for advice on equipment,{{sfn|Randall|2000|pp=190–191}} and prepared for the sessions by buying their own, including a [[plate reverb]]erator purchased from the songwriter [[Jona Lewie]].<ref name="IRVIN">{{citation
 | last = Irvin
 | first = Jim
 | author-link = Jim Irvin
 | title = Thom Yorke tells Jim Irvin how ''OK Computer'' was done
 | magazine = [[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]
 | date = July 1997}}</ref> Although Godrich had sought to focus on [[electronic dance music]],<ref name="BEAUVALLET">{{citation
 | last = Beauvallet
 | first = JD
 | title = Nigel the Nihilist
 | magazine = [[Les Inrockuptibles]]
 | date = 25 January 2000}}</ref> he outgrew his role as advisor and became the album's co-producer.{{sfn|Randall|2000|pp=190–191}}