"OK Computer" by RADIOHEAD – 2009 vs. 2017 2CD Reissues Comparisons - June 1997 UK Third Studio Album on Parlophone Records featuring Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Jonny Greenwood and Phil Selway (March 2009 UK/EUROPE EMI/Parlophone Records 2CD Collector's Edition Reissue with The Album on CD1 while CD2 Contains Tracks from Three CD Singles and a BBC Radio 1 Session from 1997 – No Remastering – June 2017 UK XL Recordings 20th Anniversary 2CD Remaster with Three New Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/OK-COMPUTER-OKNOTOK-1997-2017/dp/B071DTQH43?crid=3KT9N17U50JRE&keywords=634904086824&qid=1707483199&sprefix=634904086824%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=f9e74493416802ed5afa2f04c276a2a3&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"…Scrolling Up And Down The Neon Sign…"

Pretentious – Brilliant – Unique – Ludicrously Overrated. Radiohead do my brain in. 

When I worked at Reckless Records in both Islington and Soho (legendary used record shops that have been in business more than 40-years) - there was barely a few days went by without the unholy trio of "Pablo Honey" or "The Bends" or "OK Computer" going into shuffle play only to witness an entire shop of browsers groove and head nudge to the Art Rock noises of Thom Yorke & Co.

But I have always thought – and despite polls telling us that "OK Computer" is the greatest album ever made (which I believe to be absolute bollox) – that their second platter "The Bends" is far better. I also dug CD2 on the infuriating 2009 2CD Collectors Edition of "OK Computer" sometimes more than the album (call me zealot, arrange a beheading, public flogging etc). Then they did the June 2017 OKNOTOK 1997 2017 '20th Anniversary' Reissue – more bloody differences - more CD2s possibly better than CD1. Some history is needed here first... 

When Radiohead ended their contract with EMI – the label still owned rights to the previous three albums – so EMI naturally did what many believe was a 2009 cash-grab in the RHEAD CD3 two-disc reissue. Radiohead get their rights back years later (they are named after a Talking Heads song) and decide to do a proper band-sanctioned 20th Anniversary reissue of "OK Computer" in June 2017. This time they edit the song number on CD2 down from fifteen to eleven, add three outtakes at the beginning (three new, eight old is the new break-down), have top audio engineer BOB LUDWIG remaster the whole kaboodle (not done on the 2009 version) and add the wording "OKNOTOK 1997 2017" beneath the title on the front cover so you have a visual differentiation. So CD1 is OK and CD2 is cleverly NOTOK. 

Their new label, XL Recordings, also reissued the Double-Album in 2017 on VINYL – a very popular item indeed (there is a 3LP variant too). But in a staggeringly absent-minded move - the 20th Anniversary 2017 issue lost its 24-page booklet which left only a four-panel foldout gatefold card sleeve with no lyrics to an album that feels too dense to understand without them.

Booklet missing aside - as you can see from the listings below - CD2 of the 2017 version is a different listening beast to the CD2 of the 2009 issue. So, which is best? I own both frankly, because I feel there is advantages to each. Before I endanger my life any further with rabid head fans, to the details, OK or NOT…

2009 ISSUE:
UK/EUROPE released Friday, 23 March 2009 - "OK Computer" by RADIOHEAD on EMI/Parlophone Records RHEADCD 3 – 50999 6 93623 2 3 (Barcode 5099969362323) is a 2CD Collectors Edition Reissue that plays out as follows:

CD1 (53:29 minutes):
1. Airbag
2. Paranoid Android
3. Subterranean Homesick Alien
4. Exit Music (For A Film)
5. Let Down
6. Karma Police
7. Electioneering
8. Fitter Happier
8. Climbing Up The Walls
9. No Surprises
10. Lucky
11. The Tourist
Tracks 1 to 11 are their third studio album "OK Computer" – released 17 June 1997 in the UK on CD on Parlophone CDNODATA 02 – 7243 8 55229 2 5 (released 21 May 1997 in Japan and 1 July 1997 in the USA). It peaked at No.1 in the UK and No. 20 in the USA.

CD2 (60:42 minutes):
Paranoid Android (CD Single)
1. Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)
2. Pearly
3. A Reminder
4. Melatonin
Karma Police (CD Single)
5. Meeting In The Aisle
6. Lull
7. Climbing Up The Walls (Zero 7 Mix)
8. Climbing Up The Walls (Filla Brazillia Mix)
No Surprises (CD Single)
9. Pala Alto
10. How I Made My Millions
11. Airbag (Live In Berlin)
12. Lucky (Live In Florence)
BBC Radio One Evening Session 28.05.07
13. Climbing Up The Walls
14. Exit Music (For A Film)
15. No Surprises

2017 ISSUE:
UK/EUROPE released Friday, 23 June 2017 - "OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017" by RADIOHEAD on XL Recordings XLCD868 (Barcode 634904086824) is a 2CD 20th Anniversary Remastered Edition Reissue with Three New Outtakes on CD2 and a Remaster of all Material that plays out as follows:

CD1 OK (53:30 minutes):
Same Track List as CD1 above

CD2 NOTOK (39:12 minutes):
1. I Promise
2. Man Of War [features Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert Ziegler Conductor]
3. Lift
4. Lull
5. Meeting In The Aisle
6. Melatonin
7. A Reminder
8. Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)
9. Pearly
10. Alto
11. How I Made My Millions

Which edition is better? There is no doubt that CD2 of the 20th Anniversary Edition Reissue works so much better than the 2009 issue – especially the way it feels like a sneakily brilliant companion album – ten coherent band songs - then the piano loneliness of "How I Made My Millions" ends the listen. But I still miss me those two Climbing Up The Walls mixes – maybe not so much the BBC stuff which feels ever so slightly dead for some reason (I can understand why Radiohead wanted to lose these, maybe they felt they were badly played or recorded even with great album cuts covered like "Exit Music (For A Film)" and "No Surprises"). 

The three new songs are slow and ponderous but feel magnificent nonetheless, of which "I Promise" and "Man Of War" must be the cream of the crop. The 2017 Ludwig Remaster gives subtle oomph to "Paranoid Android", the spacey "Let Down" and the otherworldly "Karma Police" wants to pulverise your stereo. You can feel its power when "Airbag" starts to go ape – the same when "The Tourist" shuffles the album out. I own both issues (pictured above) because I'm loath to lose anything off either!

The 2017 Reissue of "OK Computer" is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Rachel Owen (Thom Yorke's life-and-marital partner for more than two decades) who passed in 2016 after a brave battle with cancer, aged only 48. A lovely gesture.

Yes, for sure, the missing booklet or perhaps some new annotation would have lifted this up to the stratosphere as this groundbreaking album fully deserved. But as it is – the 2017 '20th Anniversary' 2CD variant of "OK Computer" just leaves the music to do the talking and that would be the one I'd go for coming into it now. 

It's a more honest yet even vaguer listen – how very Radiohead…