Lucky (Radiohead song)
"Lucky" is a song by Radiohead from their third studio album OK Computer (1997). It was released as a single in France in December 1997.
"Lucky" | ||||
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Single by Radiohead | ||||
from the album The Help Album and OK Computer | ||||
Released | December 1997 (France) | |||
Format | CD | |||
Recorded | 4 September 1995 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 4:19 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Radiohead | |||
Producer(s) |
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Radiohead singles chronology | ||||
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Recording
In 1995, Radiohead were on tour, promoting their second album, The Bends. During soundchecks for shows in Japan, guitarist Ed O'Brien produced a high-pitched sound by strumming above the guitar nut.[1][2] The band developed the sound into the song and it became part of the set list.[1]
Around this time, producer Brian Eno contacted Radiohead to contribute a song to The Help Album, a charity compilation organised by War Child. The album was to be recorded over the course of a single day, 4 September 1995, and rush-released that week.[3] Radiohead recorded "Lucky" in five hours with engineer Nigel Godrich, who had assisted producer John Leckie with The Bends and produced several Radiohead B-sides.[4] Godrich went on to produce their third album, OK Computer. He said of the Help Album session: "Those things are the most inspiring, when you do stuff really fast and there's nothing to lose. We left feeling fairly euphoric."[5]
Yorke later said "Lucky" shaped the nascent sound and mood of their upcoming record, OK Computer.[4] He said: "'Lucky' was indicative of what we wanted to do. It was like the first mark on the wall."[6]
Release
To promote The Help Album, "Lucky" featured as the lead track on the Help EP, which charted at number 51 after BBC Radio 1 chose not to play it.[7] It was included as the 11th track on Radiohead's album OK Computer.
Track listing
CD single (France)[8]
- "Lucky" – 4:19
- "Meeting in the Aisle" – 3:10
- "Climbing Up the Walls" (Fila Brazillia Mix) – 6:24
Personnel
Radiohead
Additional personnel
- Stanley Donwood – illustrations
- Nigel Godrich – production, engineering
References
- Footman 2008, p. 113.
- "Ed O'Brien – 100 Greatest Guitarists: David Fricke's Picks". Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- Footman 2007, p. 113.
- Irvin, Jim (July 1997), "Thom Yorke tells Jim Irvin how OK Computer was done", Mojo
- Robinson, Andrea (August 1997), "Nigel Godrich", The Mix
- Randall 2000, p. 161.
- Lowe, Steve (December 1999), "Back to Save the Universe", Select
- Footman 2008, p. 270.
Bibliography
- Footman, Tim (2008). Welcome to the Machine: OK Computer and the Death of the Classic Album. New Malden: Chrome Dreams. ISBN 1-84240-388-5.
- Randall, Mac (2004). Exit Music: The Radiohead Story. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-183-8.