For this month’s album we have managed to get a hold of some scarce copies of a record that is widely regarded as one of the greatest reissues of all time.

Radiohead’s OK Computer, the deluxe OKNOTOK reissue contains all the brilliance of the 1997 original, newly remastered from the original analogue tapes and with extra material curated by the band themselves.

Aside from the sheer wealth of quality tracks from the original, what sets this reissue apart is the quality of the additional, unreleased material. Slotting in after “The Tourist” and before the B-sides, come “I Promise”, “Man Of War” and “Lift”. “I Promise” a relatively simple march consisting of guitar, mellotron, drums and peak Thom Yorke vocals. it was originally performed in 1996 while the band was the supporting act on an Alanis Morrisette tour. It is a beautiful mix of the sounds of The Bends and the lyrical pessimism of OK Computer.

“Man Of War” on the other hand is a much more energetic homage to James Bond themes, written while the band was touring for The Bends in 1995. And, proving that the entertainment industry truly is circular, it was submitted in reworked form as the theme for 2015’s Spectre. The studio tragically chose to go in a different direction.

Rounding out the new material is the perennial fan favourite “Lift”, performed frequently on the Alanis Morissette tour and thereafter heavily bootlegged. It was recognised as a huge potential hit early on and was originally slated to be the first single in OK Computer, but something about the pressure of expectation didn’t sit well with the band and it was ultimately abandoned. To my mind it is the best fit of all the unreleased work for OKC.

In many ways these three songs can be seen as a beautiful representation of the band’s evolution between The Bends and OK Computer, and are almost universally considered excellent additions to the album.

Of the eight remaining B-sides, none feel out of place, although we particularly enjoyed “Meeting in the Aisle”, “Melatonin” and “Pearly*”.

The deluxe set includes 3LPs of black, US-pressed 180g audiophile vinyl in a trifold jacket, with colour printed inner sleeves.

Jamie, September 2024

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