On this day in music history: June 16, 1997 - “OK Computer”, the third studio album by Radiohead is released. Produced by Radiohead and Nigel Godrich, it is recorded at Canned Applause in Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK, and St. Catherine’s Court in Bath, UK. Following their highly acclaimed sophomore release “The Bends”, the band will shift musical directions yet again, producing a much more experimental, layered piano based sound than their first two albums. Initially, Radiohead’s US record label Capitol has low expectations for the albums’ commercial potential as it strays far from the bands’ trademark “Britpop” rock sound. The album will launched in the US with an unusual promotional campaign. 1,000 cassette review copies will be sent to the press and music industry tastemakers with the tape permanently glued inside the player. It will receive universal acclaim upon its release, frequently drawing comparisons to Pink Floyd’s classic “The Dark Side Of The Moon”, though the band themselves will disagree with the assessment. “Computer” will become Radiohead’s best selling album worldwide, spinning off three singles including “Paranoid Android” (#3 UK) and “Karma Police” (#8 UK, #14 US Modern Rock). The album will be nominated for three Grammy Awards in 1998 including Album Of The Year. They will win for Best Alternative Music Performance. “OK Computer” will hit #1 on the UK album chart, #21 on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 2x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

On this day in music history: June 16, 1997 - “OK Computer”, the third studio album by Radiohead is released. Produced by Radiohead and Nigel Godrich, it is recorded at Canned Applause in Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK, and St. Catherine’s Court in Bath, UK. Following their highly acclaimed sophomore release “The Bends”, the band will shift musical directions yet again, producing a much more experimental, layered piano based sound than their first two albums. Initially, Radiohead’s US record label Capitol has low expectations for the albums’ commercial potential as it strays far from the bands’ trademark “Britpop” rock sound. Though the album will launched in the US with an unusual promotional campaign. 1,000 cassette review copies will be sent to the press and music industry tastemakers with the tape permanently glued inside the player. It will receive universal acclaim upon its release and is widely regards as one of the best albums of the 90’s. “Computer” will become their best selling album worldwide, spinning off three singles including “Paranoid Android” and “Karma Police”. “OK Computer” will hit #1 on the UK album chart and #21 on the Billboard Top 200.