Pablo Honey

Last updated

Pablo Honey
Radiohead.pablohoney.albumart.jpg
Studio album by
Released22 February 1993 (1993-02-22)
Recorded1992
Studio
Genre
Length42:11
Label
Producer
Radiohead chronology
Drill
(1992)
Pablo Honey
(1993)
My Iron Lung
(1994)
Singles from Pablo Honey
  1. "Creep"
    Released: 21 September 1992
  2. "Anyone Can Play Guitar"
    Released: 1 February 1993
  3. "Stop Whispering"
    Released: 5 October 1993

Pablo Honey is the debut studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 22 February 1993 in the UK by Parlophone and on 20 April 1993 in the US by Capitol Records. It was produced by Sean Slade, Paul Q. Kolderie and Radiohead's co-manager Chris Hufford.

Contents

Radiohead formed in 1985 at Abingdon School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and signed a recording contract with EMI in 1991. Their debut EP, Drill (1992), achieved little success. For their debut album, Radiohead's management targeted the American market and chose American producers. Pablo Honey was recorded in three weeks at Chipping Norton Recording Studios in Oxfordshire in 1992. The recording was hampered by Radiohead's lack of studio experience.

The singles "Creep", "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Stop Whispering" initially made little impact. However, "Creep" gradually gained international radio play, reaching number seven on the UK singles chart after it was reissued in 1993. Radiohead embarked on an aggressive promotional tour in the US supporting Belly and PJ Harvey, followed by a European tour supporting James. In May 1995, a live video, Live at the Astoria (1995), was released on VHS.

Pablo Honey reached number 22 on the UK Albums Chart. It was certified gold in the UK in 1994 and double platinum in 2013. In the US, it was certified platinum in 1995. Pablo Honey received generally favourable reviews, but some found it underdeveloped or derivative. Though it is less acclaimed than Radiohead's later work, some retrospective reviews have been positive and it has appeared in lists of the greatest albums. The members of Radiohead have criticised it, citing weaker songwriting and their studio inexperience. "Creep" remains Radiohead's most successful single.

Background

Abingdon School, Oxfordshire, where Radiohead formed Abingdon School, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England-23April2011.jpg
Abingdon School, Oxfordshire, where Radiohead formed

The members of Radiohead met while attending Abingdon School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. [1] In 1985, they formed On a Friday, the name referring to their usual rehearsal day in the school's music room. [2] They recorded demo tapes, including a cassette unofficially titled Manic Hedgehog, which featured versions of the future Pablo Honey tracks "You", "I Can't" and "Thinking About You". [3]

One demo attracted the attention of a local producer, Chris Hufford. [4] He and his business partner, Bryce Edge, became the band's managers after attending a concert at the Jericho Tavern, Oxford. [4] In late 1991, On a Friday signed a six-album recording contract with EMI and changed their name at EMI's request. [5] [6] Their name was taken from the Talking Heads song "Radio Head" from the 1986 album True Stories . [7]

Radiohead released their debut EP, Drill, in 1992. It was produced by Hufford in his studio, Courtyard Studios, in Oxfordshire. [8] It reached number 101 on the UK singles chart; the Guardian later described it as an "inauspicious start" that drew little attention. [9] Hufford said producing the EP himself was a mistake, as it created a conflict of interest and generated friction in the studio. [8]

Hufford and Edge resolved to find different producers for Radiohead's next recording. [8] Independent labels dominated the indie charts in the UK, but EMI was a major label. Hufford and Edge therefore planned to have Radiohead use American producers and tour aggressively in America, then return to build a following in the UK. [10] They considered hiring Steve Albini, but he had not yet worked with major acts and EMI felt it was too risky. [10]

Around this time, the American producers Paul Kolderie and Sean Slade, who had worked with bands including the Pixies and Dinosaur Jr, [2] were in the UK looking for work. [11] The EMI A&R director, Nick Gatfield, gave them a selection of acts to consider. [10] They agreed to produce Radiohead after he played them "Stop Whispering". [10] Kolderie was particularly impressed by Thom Yorke's vocals. [12] Upon meeting the band, Kolderie was struck by their youth, but also their unity and closeness. [12] He described "a seriousness of purpose and a seriousness of trying to create music that was a little different". [12] He was initially more impressed by Hufford and Edge than by Radiohead, calling them "crafty mothers ... I don't think I've ever met two guys who had more of a plan." [13]

Recording

The former Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire, where Radiohead recorded Pablo Honey Former Chipping Norton Recording Studios.jpg
The former Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire, where Radiohead recorded Pablo Honey

Radiohead recorded Pablo Honey at Chipping Norton Studios in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. [3] They first attempted to record two songs that EMI was considering for Radiohead's debut single, "Inside My Head" and "Lurgee". [8] They made little progress; Kolderie described Radiohead as "desperately inexperienced", and neither they nor the producers liked the choice of songs. Kolderie said "Inside My Head" was "not very melodic" and lacked the power of Radiohead's other songs. [8] Hufford described the results as "overblown bombastic rock". [8]

During rehearsals, Radiohead unexpectedly played another song, "Creep". They considered it a "throwaway" track, but it impressed the producers. [14] At Kolderie's suggestion, they recorded a take, after which everyone in the studio burst into applause. [8] EMI were persuaded to make "Creep" Radiohead's debut single. According to Kolderie, "everyone [at EMI] who heard Creep just started going insane" and he and Slade were hired to produce the album. [8] Radiohead took elements of "Creep" from the 1972 song "The Air That I Breathe". After Rondor Music took legal action, the songwriters, Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood, were given shared royalties and songwriting credits. [15] [16]

Pablo Honey was recorded in three weeks. Kolderie described it as a struggle, and said: "It was their first record and they wanted to be the Beatles, and the mix had to have no reverb, and they had all the ideas they'd ever come up with in 20 years of listening to records." [8] Kolderie noted the band's studio inexperience and difficulty in finishing tracks, but said he enjoyed the work due to the small group and joking atmosphere. [17]

For the introduction to "Anyone Can Play Guitar", Kolderie had everyone in the studio, including the cook, create sounds on guitar. "The idea was to live up to the title: anyone can play guitar," he said. [3] The guitarist Jonny Greenwood used a paintbrush for his part. [3] Radiohead did not like the version of "Lurgee" they recorded with Kolderie and Slade, and used an earlier version, recorded with Hufford at Courtyard, for the album. [14] Kolderie said Pablo Honey was "not cheap", and estimated that it had cost more than £100,000 to record. [17]

The album title comes from a prank call sketch by the American comedy act the Jerky Boys in which the caller poses as the victim's mother and says: "Pablo, honey? Please come to Florida." Yorke said it was appropriate as the band were "mothers' boys". [3] A sample of the sketch appears during the guitar solo on "How Do You?" [3]

Music and lyrics

In Pablo Honey, critics found elements of grunge, [18] [19] [20] alternative rock, [18] stadium rock, [21] progressive rock, [20] college rock, [18] post-grunge, [22] and jangle pop. [18] The album drew comparisons to Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., Sugar, [23] U2, [24] [25] the Smiths, [25] [26] the Cure, [25] [26] the Who [27] and the Jam. [27]

The Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien later described Pablo Honey as a "hedonistic" album that "you might put on in an open-top car on a Saturday night going to a party". [2] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described it as a blend of the anthemic rock of U2 with "atmospheric" instrumental passages. [21] The Salon journalist Annie Zaleski said it featured "distortion-blurred guitar lines that twisted like a kite in the wind". [28] Gary Walker, writing for Guitar.com , described it as "nakedly naive and unguarded" compared to Radiohead's more complex later work. [29] He wrote that it captured the "embryonic dynamic" between the three guitarists and described Greenwood's guitar work as an "exhilarating melange of tremolo-picked soundscapes, chunky octaves, screaming high-register runs and killswitch antics". [29] The opening track, "You", moves between major and minor chords and alternating time signatures. [30] "Blow Out" combines elements of bossa nova and krautrock; it starts with "tense, jazzy" drumming and raked chords and concludes with a shoegaze section. [28] [29] [30]

Zaleski said the Pablo Honey lyrics express anger at the status quo, the feeling of being an outsider, and worry for the future. [28] "Creep" features a quiet verse and a loud chorus, with "blasts" of guitar noise from Jonny Greenwood. [31] Yorke described it as a "self-destruct song". [32] The lyrics were inspired by a woman that Yorke followed around who unexpectedly attended a Radiohead performance. [31] The lyrics of "Stop Whispering" are about oppression, and the frustration from failing to explain it. [28] Yorke wrote the line "Grow my hair, I wanna be Jim Morrison", from "Anyone Can Play Guitar", in response to people in the music business who "think they have to act like fucking prats in order to live up to the legend". [32] According to Zaleski, "Ripcord" is about the "experience of hurtling into the unknown". [28] "Lurgee" ends with a "meandering" solo. [28]

Release

"Creep" was released as the lead Pablo Honey single on 21 September 1992. [8] [33] It initially received little airplay and sold around 6,000 copies, reaching number 78 on the UK singles chart. [8] The 1993 singles "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Stop Whispering", plus the non-album single "Pop Is Dead", were unsuccessful. [34] While "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Pop Is Dead" charted on the UK singles chart, "Stop Whispering" gained no traction. [34] Radiohead rerecorded "Stop Whispering" for the US single as they were not happy with the album version. O'Brien said the new version was "more atmospheric", likening it to Joy Division. [3]

Pablo Honey was released in February 1993 and received little press. [8] It reached number 25 in 1993's UK Albums Chart. [35] However, "Creep" became a hit in Israel, where it was played frequently by the radio DJ Yoav Kutner. In March, Radiohead were invited to Tel Aviv for their first overseas show. [36] Around the same time, "Creep" rose to number two on the US Modern Rock chart, [37] and Pablo Honey was selling well on import. [38] "Creep" reached number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, [8] and reached number seven on the UK singles chart when EMI rereleased it in September 1993. [39] In the UK, Pablo Honey was certified silver in February 1994, gold in April 1994, platinum in June 1997, and double platinum in July 2013. [40] In the US, it was certified gold in September 1993 and platinum in September 1995. [41]

Tour

In late 1992, Radiohead toured the UK with Kingmaker and the Frank and Walters. [38] That September, they performed at the UK EMI conference. They impressed the EMI promoter Carol Baxter, who said: "This funny little band came on and they obviously had something. This was a hideous record company do but Thom gave it everything." [8] That Christmas, NME published a review of a Radiohead performance that dismissed them as "a pitiful, lily-livered excuse for a rock 'n' roll group". [8]

In June 1993, Radiohead began their first North American tour. [42] In July, they gave a performance of "Anyone Can Play Guitar" live on MTV Beach House in which Yorke screamed the improvised lyrics "fat, ugly, dead!", before breaking down on camera and jumping into a pool. Yorke was holding a live microphone and narrowly avoided electrocuting himself. [43] [44] [45]

Radiohead cancelled an appearance at the 1993 Reading Festival after Yorke became ill; he told NME, "Physically I'm completely fucked and mentally I've had enough." [46] According to some reports, EMI gave Radiohead six months to "get sorted" or be dropped. EMI's A&R head, Keith Wozencroft, denied this, saying: "Experimental rock music was getting played and had commercial potential. People voice different paranoias, but for the label [Radiohead] were developing brilliantly from Pablo Honey." [46]

In September 1993, after "Creep" was reissued, Radiohead performed it on the British music programme Top of the Pops [47] [48] and as the first musical guests on the American talk show Late Night with Conan O'Brien. [49] EMI's American arm, Capitol, wanted to continue promoting Pablo Honey and build on the momentum. [8] Radiohead declined an offer to tour the US in support of Duran Duran, as their managers felt they could earn more credibility by supporting Belly. [8] They also opened for PJ Harvey in New York City and Los Angeles. [50] On 13 May 1995, a live video, Live at the Astoria (1995), was released on VHS, with performances of Pablo Honey songs such as "Creep", "You" and "Anyone Can Play Guitar". [51] [52]

Radiohead struggled with the tour. Yorke disliked dealing with American music journalists and tired of the songs. [8] The band members appeared in promotional material they later regretted, such as fashion shoots for Iceberg jeans and the magazine Interview. [8] According to Radiohead's agent, the promotional work triggered "a lot of soul-searching about why they were in a group at all". [8] Jonny Greenwood said they "spent a year being jukeboxes ... We felt in a creative stasis because we couldn't release anything new." [8] The American tour was followed by a European tour supporting James and Tears for Fears. [8] [38] Kolderie credited the Pablo Honey tours for turning Radiohead "into a tight band". [17]

Critical reception

Contemporaneous reviews
Review scores
SourceRating
Calgary Herald B [53]
Entertainment Weekly B [25]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [26]
NME 7/10 [54]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [23]
Select 3/5 [55]

Pablo Honey failed to make a critical impact upon its initial release. [56] NME's John Harris referred to Radiohead as "one of rock's brightest hopes". [54] Harris said the track "How Do You?" "breaks the [album's] momentum... horribly", but described Pablo Honey as "satisfying" despite its flaws. [54] NME later named it the 35th-best album of the year. [57] Q wrote that "British teenagerhood has never been grumpier" and described Pablo Honey as a good album with moments that rivalled Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr. and Sugar. [23]

In the United States, "Creep" drew parallels with Nirvana, with some describing Radiohead as the "British Nirvana". [58] Billboard said the lyrics had "enough bite to make it on their own" despite the U2 comparisons. [24] In a mixed review, Mario Mundoz of the Los Angeles Times wrote that it "doesn't really deliver anything you haven't heard before" but "does offer clever lyrics and good hooks". [26] Robert Christgau of The Village Voice did not recommend the album, but named "Creep" a "choice cut". [59] Rolling Stone wrote that the album's charm originates from its guitar work, song structures, melodies, and choruses that invoke a "pop appeal". [27]

Legacy

Retrospective reviews
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [21]
The A.V. Club B− [60]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [61]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [62]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [63]
Pitchfork 5.4/10 [64]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [65]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [66]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [67]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [68]

Although Pablo Honey did not receive the acclaim of Radiohead's later albums, [69] it has received praise in retrospective coverage. The musician and journalist Phil Witmer wrote that "Pablo Honey is endearing because we now know the band that made it would become something extraordinary not even five years later". [30] He chose "You" and "Blow Out" as the most sophisticated tracks, pointing towards Radiohead's later work. [30]

According to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, the songwriting does not always match Radiohead's sound, but when it does, it achieves "a rare power that is both visceral and intelligent". [21] Kenny EG Perry of NME described the album as "the sound of one of the best bands of this or any other generation playing the music that taught them all their good early lessons". [70] Clash said that it "points towards everything that [Radiohead] would go on to be". [71]

In a 2008 review, Al Spicer of BBC Music described Pablo Honey as Radiohead's "exploration of suburban, adolescent self-awareness" and "one of rock's most impressive debuts". [20] In 2009, PopMatters ' Mehan Jahasuriya criticised Pablo Honey as "a hodgepodge of half-baked grunge, jangle-pop and stadium-ready alternative rock ... nearly indistinguishable from other early '90s college rock throwaways, save for a few hints of greatness". [18] Reviewing the 2009 reissue for Pitchfork , Scott Plagenhoef praised "Creep", "You", "Stop Whispering" and "Prove Yourself", but described "How Do You?", "I Can't", "Ripcord" and "Vegetable" as "run of the mill at best". [72]

After the success of "Creep", Radiohead grew to resent it. [73] In 1993, Yorke said: "It's like it's not our song any more ... It feels like we're doing a cover." [73] The success almost led to Radiohead's break-up. [73] Their frustration with "Creep" and Pablo Honey influenced their second album, The Bends (1995). [8] The album title, a term for decompression sickness, references Radiohead's rapid rise to fame; Yorke said "we just came up too fast". [37] While touring for their 1997 album OK Computer , Yorke became hostile when "Creep" was mentioned in interviews and refused requests to play it. [74] In the following years, the band stopped performing it entirely, but later started performing it infrequently. [28] Though Radiohead achieved greater commercial and critical success with later albums, "Creep" remains their most successful single. [75] Based on their work on Pablo Honey, the American band Hole hired Slade and Kolderie to produce their 1994 album Live Through This . [76]

In 2007, Pitchfork wrote that, with Pablo Honey, "Radiohead didn't so much ride the coattails of grunge to mass success as stumble over them, and they've been apologising for it ever since." [77] In 1996, the bassist, Colin Greenwood, said, "I'd give [Pablo Honey] a seven out of 10 – not bad for an album recorded in just two and a half weeks." [78] In 1997, O'Brien said it was derivative of Dinosaur Jr. and the Pixies. [79] He described it as "a collection of our greatest hits as an unsigned band". [80] Jonny Greenwood said in 1998 that it "lacked freedom", and was hindered by the band's fear and inexperience. [2] O'Brien said in 2020 that Pablo Honey was "pretty shit [...] but we worked hard and became good. That's one of the things I've held onto: you don't have to have all the answers straight away." [81]

Accolades

In 1998, Pablo Honey was voted the 100th best album of all time in a poll held by Virgin [82] and 61st in a poll by Q. [83] The journalist Colin Larkin placed it 301st in the third edition of All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000). [84] As part of its 2007 list of the "500 Greatest Lost Tracks", Q included "Lurgee" and "Blow Out" in a list of 20 essential lesser-known Radiohead songs. [85] In 2006, Classic Rock and Metal Hammer named Pablo Honey one of the 20 greatest albums of 1993. [86] In 2008, Blender ranked it 82nd in its list of "100 Albums You Must Own". [87]

Reissues

Radiohead left EMI after their contract ended in 2003. [88] In 2007, EMI released Radiohead Box Set , a compilation of albums recorded while Radiohead were signed to EMI, including Pablo Honey. [88] In 2009, EMI reissued Pablo Honey in a "Collector's Edition" with the Drill EP tracks, B-sides and alternative takes. [89] Radiohead had no input into the reissues and the music was not remastered. [90]

In February 2013, Parlophone was bought by Warner Music Group (WMG). [91] In April 2016, as a result of an agreement with the trade group Impala, WMG transferred Radiohead's back catalogue to XL Recordings. The EMI reissues, released without Radiohead's consent, were removed from streaming services. [92] In May 2016, XL reissued Radiohead's back catalogue on vinyl, including Pablo Honey. [93]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Thom Yorke; all music is composed by Radiohead, except "Creep", written by Radiohead, Mike Hazlewood and Albert Hammond

Pablo Honey track listing
No.TitleLength
1."You"3:29
2."Creep"3:56
3."How Do You?"2:12
4."Stop Whispering"5:26
5."Thinking About You"2:41
6."Anyone Can Play Guitar"3:38
7."Ripcord"3:10
8."Vegetable"3:13
9."Prove Yourself"2:25
10."I Can't"4:13
11."Lurgee"3:08
12."Blow Out"4:40
Total length:42:11

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes. [94]

Radiohead

Production

  • Chris Blair – mastering
  • Chris Hufford – production, engineering (tracks 10, 11)
  • Paul Q. Kolderie – production, engineering (tracks 1–9, 12), mixing, guitar on "Anyone Can Play Guitar" [3]
  • Sean Slade – production, engineering (tracks 1–9, 12), mixing, guitar on "Anyone Can Play Guitar" [3]

Design

  • Icon – design
  • Lisa Bunny Jones – paintings
  • Tom Sheehan – photography

Charts

Certifications and sales

Sales certifications for Pablo Honey
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF) [108] Gold30,000^
Australia (ARIA) [109] Gold35,000^
Belgium (BEA) [110] Platinum50,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [111] 2× Platinum200,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [112] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [113] 2× Platinum600,000^
United States (RIAA) [114] Platinum1,520,000 [115]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. They comprise Thom Yorke ; brothers Jonny Greenwood and Colin Greenwood (bass); Ed O'Brien ; and Philip Selway. They have worked with the producer Nigel Godrich and the cover artist Stanley Donwood since 1994. Radiohead's experimental approach is credited with advancing the sound of alternative rock.

<i>OK Computer</i> 1997 studio album by Radiohead

OK Computer is the third studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 21 May 1997. With their producer, Nigel Godrich, Radiohead recorded most of OK Computer in their rehearsal space in Oxfordshire and the historic mansion of St Catherine's Court in Bath in 1996 and early 1997. They distanced themselves from the guitar-centred, lyrically introspective style of their previous album, The Bends. OK Computer's abstract lyrics, densely layered sound and eclectic influences laid the groundwork for Radiohead's later, more experimental work.

<i>Kid A</i> 2000 studio album by Radiohead

Kid A is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 2 October 2000 by Parlophone. It was recorded with their producer, Nigel Godrich, in Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Departing from their earlier sound, Radiohead incorporated influences from electronic music, krautrock, jazz and 20th-century classical music, with a wider range of instruments and effects. The singer, Thom Yorke, wrote impersonal and abstract lyrics, cutting up phrases and assembling them at random.

<i>The Bends</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Radiohead

The Bends is the second studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 13 March 1995 by Parlophone. It was produced by John Leckie, with extra production by Radiohead, Nigel Godrich and Jim Warren. The Bends combines guitar songs and ballads, with more restrained arrangements and cryptic lyrics than Radiohead's debut album, Pablo Honey (1993).

<i>Drill</i> (EP) 1992 EP by Radiohead

Drill is the debut EP by the English rock band Radiohead, released in May 1992. It was Radiohead's first commercial release, and attracted little attention, reaching 101 on the UK Album Chart. Radiohead rerecorded three Drill songs for their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993).

<i>I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings</i> 2001 live album by Radiohead

I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings is a live album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 12 November 2001 in the UK by Parlophone and a day later in the US by Capitol Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Yorke</span> English musician (born 1968)

Thomas Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. He plays guitar, bass, keyboards and other instruments, and is noted for his falsetto. Rolling Stone described Yorke as one of the greatest and most influential singers of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed O'Brien</span> English musician (born 1968)

Edward John O'Brien is an English guitarist, songwriter and member of the rock band Radiohead. He releases solo music under the name EOB.

<i>My Iron Lung</i> 1994 EP by Radiohead

My Iron Lung is the third EP by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 26 September 1994 by Parlophone Records in the UK and by Capitol Records in the US. It was produced by Radiohead, John Leckie and Nigel Godrich. It marked Radiohead's first collaborations with Godrich and the artist Stanley Donwood, who have worked on every Radiohead release since.

<i>Live at the Astoria</i> 1995 video by Radiohead

Live at the Astoria is a live concert video by the English rock group Radiohead, taken from their performance at the London Astoria on 27 May 1994. It features performances of songs from their first two albums, Pablo Honey (1993) and The Bends (1995). It was released on VHS in 1995, with DVD and streaming releases in later years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High and Dry / Planet Telex</span> 1995 single by Radiohead

"High and Dry" and "Planet Telex" are songs by the English rock band Radiohead. They were released as a double-A side single from Radiohead's second album, The Bends (1995), on 27 February 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creep (Radiohead song)</span> 1992 single by Radiohead

"Creep" is the debut single by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 21 September 1992 by EMI. It was included as the second track of Radiohead's debut album, Pablo Honey (1993). It features "blasts" of guitar noise by Jonny Greenwood and lyrics describing an obsessive unrequited attraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fake Plastic Trees</span> 1995 single by Radiohead

"Fake Plastic Trees" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released on their second album, The Bends (1995). It was the third single from The Bends in the UK, and the first in the US. It reached the top 50 on the UK Singles Chart, the New Zealand Singles Chart, the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and the Canadian Rock/Alternative chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Surprises</span> 1998 single by Radiohead

"No Surprises" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the fourth and final single from their third studio album, OK Computer (1997), in 1998. It was also released as a mini-album in Japan, titled No Surprises / Running from Demons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pop Is Dead</span> 1993 single by Radiohead

"Pop Is Dead" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as a non-album single on 10 May 1993, several months after their debut album, Pablo Honey. It features a chromatic guitar riff and lyrics criticising the music industry. The music video features the singer, Thom Yorke, in a coffin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just (song)</span> 1995 single by Radiohead

"Just" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, included on their second album, The Bends (1995). It features an angular guitar riff played by Jonny Greenwood, inspired by the band Magazine. It was released as a single on 21 August 1995 and reached number 19 on the UK singles chart. In 2008, "Just" was included in Radiohead: The Best Of. The English producer Mark Ronson released a cover version on his 2008 album Version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stop Whispering</span> 1993 single by Radiohead

"Stop Whispering" is a song by the English alternative rock band Radiohead, included on their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993). It was released as a single in the US in October 1993. Radiohead rerecorded it for the single release, as they were unsatisfied with the album version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bends (song)</span> 1996 single by Radiohead

"The Bends" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead from their second studio album, The Bends (1995). In Ireland, it was released by Parlophone on 26 July 1996 as the album's sixth and final single, and reached number 26 on the Irish Singles Chart.

References

  1. McLean, Craig (14 July 2003). "Don't worry, be happy". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mac Randall (1 April 1998). "The golden age of Radiohead". Guitar World . Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Runtagh, Jordan (22 February 2018). "Radiohead's Pablo Honey: 10 things you didn't know". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  4. 1 2 Doyle, Tom (April 2008). "The complete Radiohead". Q . 261: 65–69. ISSN   0955-4955.
  5. Randall 2011, Chapters 3 and 4.
  6. Forde, Eamonn (18 February 2019). "Chasing rainbows: inside the battle between Radiohead and EMI's Guy Hands". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  7. Ross, Alex (20 August 2001). "The Searchers". The New Yorker . Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Irvin, Jim; Hoskyns, Barney (July 1997). "We have lift-off!". Mojo (45).
  9. Nestruck, Kelly (9 October 2007). "15 years of Radiohead". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Randall 2011, p. 59.
  11. Randall 2011, p. 58.
  12. 1 2 3 Montgomery, James (21 February 2013). "Radiohead's Pablo Honey Turns 20: From 'Creep' To Conquering The World". MTV. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  13. Randall 2011, Chapter 4.
  14. 1 2 Randall 2011, p. 60.
  15. "Lana Del Rey sued by Radiohead for allegedly copying 'Creep'" . The Daily Telegraph . 8 January 2018. ISSN   0307-1235. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  16. Hyun Kim, Michelle (7 January 2018). "Lana Del Rey says Radiohead suing her for copying 'Creep'". Pitchfork . Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 Randall 2011, p. 62.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Jahasuriya, Mehan (15 March 2009). "Jigsaw Falling into Place: Revisiting Radiohead's '90s Output". PopMatters . Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  19. Kemp, Mark (26 March 2009). "Radiohead: Pablo Honey, the Bends, OK Computer (Reissues)". Paste .
  20. 1 2 3 Spicer, Al (2008). "Radiohead Pablo Honey Review". BBC Music . Archived from the original on 21 April 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pablo Honey – Radiohead". AllMusic . Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  22. Coffman, Tim (21 September 2021). "15 artists who completely reinvented their sound from album to album". Alternative Press .
  23. 1 2 3 "Radiohead: Pablo Honey". Q . No. 79. London. April 1993. p. 86.
  24. 1 2 "Radiohead: Pablo Honey". Billboard . New York. 24 April 1993. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Fox, Marisa (14 May 1993). "Pablo Honey". Entertainment Weekly . New York. p. 56. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Munoz, Mario (27 June 1993). "Radiohead, 'Pablo Honey,' Capitol". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  27. 1 2 3 Evans, Paul (23 December 1993). "1993: The Year in Recordings – Radiohead: Pablo Honey". Rolling Stone . No. 672–673. New York. p. 151. Archived from the original on 17 February 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Zaleski, Annie (23 February 2018). "Pablo Honey: Beyond "Creep": Radiohead's debut foreshadowed their greatness". Salon . Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  29. 1 2 3 Walker, Gary (15 February 2023). "The Genius Of... Pablo Honey by Radiohead". Guitar.com . Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  30. 1 2 3 4 Witmer, Phil (22 February 2018). "The first song on Radiohead's debut album predicted their future greatness". Vice . Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  31. 1 2 Christi Kempf (7 June 1993). "The Radiohead Vision Creeps Onto Airwaves". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on 29 March 2017.
  32. 1 2 Fortnam, Ian (1992). "Paranoid Android?". Prog .
  33. Randall 2012, pp. 84–85.
  34. 1 2 Randall 2011, pp. 67, 79, 87.
  35. Randall 2011, p. 78.
  36. Rubinstein, Harry (20 January 2009). "The Radiohead — Israel connection". israelity.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009.
  37. 1 2 "Radiohead creeps past early success". Billboard . 25 February 1995.
  38. 1 2 3 Gilbert, Pat (November 1996). "Radiohead". Record Collector .
  39. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  40. "Radiohead, Pablo Honey". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  41. "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  42. Greene, Andy (10 May 2016). "Flashback: Radiohead Play an Early Version of 'The Bends'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  43. "Enjoy This Great Moment In Radiohead History From 25 Years Ago Today". Stereogum . 4 July 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  44. Bray, Ryan (5 July 2018). "Video Rewind: Radiohead's electrifying performance at the MTV Beach House". Consequence . Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  45. "Radiohead go mainstream with 'Creep' at MTV's Beach House". Far Out . 5 February 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  46. 1 2 Monroe, Jazz (13 March 2019). "Radiohead's The Bends: inside the anti-capitalist, anti-cynicism classic". NME . Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  47. Christi Kempf (7 June 1993). "The Radiohead Vision Creeps Onto Airwaves". Chicago Sun-Times .
  48. Live Forever: The Rise and Fall of Brit Pop . 2003. Bonus interviews.
  49. "Conan O'Brien's 10 Most Memorable Music Performances". Consequence of Sound. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  50. Nichols, Natalie (Fall 1993). "Creeping into the Limelight". Fender Frontline. 11. The Phelps Group.
  51. Skinner, Tom (27 May 2020). "Radiohead to stream classic Live at the Astoria show in full". NME . Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  52. Kohn, Daniel (28 May 2020). "Radiohead to Stream Classic 1994 Show From London". Spin . Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  53. Tremblay, Mark (2 May 1993). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald .
  54. 1 2 3 Harris, John (13 March 1993). "Radiohead: Pablo Honey". NME . London. p. 33.
  55. Lamacq, Steve (April 1993). "Radiohead: Pablo Honey". Select . No. 34. London. p. 80.
  56. "Radiohead: The right frequency". BBC News. 22 February 2001. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
  57. "The Top 50 LPs of 1993". NME . London. 25 December 1993. p. 67.
  58. Linder, Brian (24 March 2009). "Radiohead: Worst to Best". IGN . Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  59. Christgau 2000, Radiohead: Pablo Honey.
  60. Modell, Josh (3 April 2009). "Radiohead". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  61. Slaughter, James. "Radiohead: Pablo Honey". Blender . New York. Archived from the original on 17 August 2004. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  62. Larkin 2007, p. 4065.
  63. Clayton-Lea, Tony (3 April 2009). "Radiohead: Pablo Honey / The Bends / OK Computer". The Irish Times . Dublin. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  64. Plagenhoef, Scott (16 April 2009). "Radiohead: Pablo Honey: Collector's Edition / The Bends: Collector's Edition / OK Computer: Collector's Edition". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  65. Segal, Victoria (May 2009). "Radiohead: Pablo Honey / The Bends / OK Computer". Q . No. 274. London. pp. 120–21.
  66. Hermes, Will (30 April 2009). "Pablo Honey (Collector's Edition)". Rolling Stone . New York. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  67. Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Radiohead". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  671–72. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  68. Richards, Sam (8 April 2009). "Radiohead Reissues – Collectors Editions". Uncut . London. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  69. Randall 2011, p. 69
  70. Perry, Kenny EG (11 July 2012). "Radiohead, Pablo Honey - Album A&E". NME .
  71. "Classic Albums: Radiohead - Pablo Honey". Clash Magazine . 22 February 2013.
  72. Plagenhoef, Scott (16 April 2009). "Radiohead — Pablo Honey: Collector's Edition". Pitchfork . Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  73. 1 2 3 Runtagh, Jordan (22 February 2018). "Radiohead's Pablo Honey: 10 things you didn't know". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  74. "Radiohead: "We were spitting and fighting and crying..."". Uncut . 18 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  75. Monroe, Jazz (23 January 2020). "Radiohead's 40 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  76. Hopper, Jessica (14 April 2014). "You Will Ache Like I Ache: The Oral History of Hole's Live Through This". Spin . Archived from the original on 1 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  77. Klein, Joshua (26 February 2007). "Various artists: Jonny Greenwood Is the Controller Album Review". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  78. Kening, Dan. "All Grown Up". Daily Herald . 29 March 1996. Retrieved 25 August 2010. Excerpt Archived 23 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine at nl.newsbank.com (fee required for complete article).
  79. Moran, Caitlin (July 1997). "I'm so glad they're getting more radio play than us". Select . No. 85. London. p. 87.
  80. Randall 2012, p. 121: "Ed O'Brien has described the album, truthfully but rather condescendingly, as 'a collection of our greatest hits as an unsigned band'"
  81. McLean, Craig (6 February 2020). "Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien steps up". The Face . Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  82. Maung, Carole Aye. "Beatles albums are top 3 of all time" Archived 21 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine . Daily Mirror . 7 September 1998. Retrieved 23 August 2010. Archived at TheFreeLibrary.com.
  83. "The Top 100 Greatest Albums In The Universe". Q . February 1998.
  84. Colin Larkin (2006). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. p. 126. ISBN   0-7535-0493-6.
  85. "The 500 Greatest Lost Tracks". Q . February 2007.
  86. Classic Rock / Metal Hammer . "The 200 greatest albums of the 70s, 80s & 90s". March 2006. Archived Archived 19 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine at muzieklijstjes.nl.
  87. "100 Albums You Must Own". Blender . No. 70. New York. June 2008.
  88. 1 2 Nestruck, Kelly (8 November 2007). "EMI stab Radiohead in the back catalogue". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
  89. Plagenhoef, Scott (16 April 2009). "Radiohead: Pablo Honey: Collector's Edition / The Bends: Collector's Edition / OK Computer: Collector's Edition". Pitchfork . Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  90. McCarthy, Sean (18 December 2009). "The Best Re-Issues of 2009: 18: Radiohead: Pablo Honey / The Bends / OK Computer / Kid A / Amnesiac / Hail to the Thief". PopMatters . Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  91. Knopper, Steve (8 February 2013). "Pink Floyd, Radiohead Catalogs Change Label Hands". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  92. Christman, Ed (4 April 2016). "Radiohead's Early Catalog Moves From Warner Bros. to XL". Billboard . Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  93. Spice, Anton (6 May 2016). "Radiohead to reissue entire catalogue on vinyl". The Vinyl Factory . Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  94. Radiohead (1993). Pablo Honey (CD). Capitol Records. CDP 0777 7 81409 2 4.
  95. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 228.
  96. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1483". RPM . 17 July 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  97. "Dutchcharts.nl – Radiohead – Pablo Honey" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  98. "Charts.nz – Radiohead – Pablo Honey". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  99. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  100. "Radiohead Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  101. "Ultratop.be – Radiohead – Pablo Honey" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  102. "Ultratop.be – Radiohead – Pablo Honey" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  103. "Swedishcharts.com – Radiohead – Pablo Honey". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  104. "Lescharts.com – Radiohead – Pablo Honey". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  105. "Swisscharts.com – Radiohead – Pablo Honey". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  106. "Spanishcharts.com – Radiohead – Pablo Honey". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  107. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  108. "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  109. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  110. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2007". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  111. "Canadian album certifications – Radiohead – Pablo Honey". Music Canada . Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  112. "Dutch album certifications – Radiohead – Pablo Honey" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved 30 August 2018.Enter Pablo Honey in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1997 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  113. "British album certifications – Radiohead – Pablo Honey". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  114. "American album certifications – Radiohead – Pablo Honey". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  115. "Radiohead's Digital Album Sales, Visualized". Forbes . Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2018.

Bibliography