Drill
EP by
Radiohead
Released5 May 1992
RecordedOctober 1991 ("Thinking About You"), February 1992
StudioCourtyard Studios, Oxford
GenreAlternative rock, indie rock
Length10:33
LabelParlophone
ProducerChris Hufford
Radiohead chronology
Drill
(1992) 		Pablo Honey
(1993)

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).

Background

Main article: Radiohead § 1985–1992: Formation and first years

The members of Radiohead met while attending Abingdon School, an independent school for boys in Abingdon, England.[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 demos including the Manic Hedgehog tape, named after a record shop in Oxford.[3]

In late 1991, Radiohead signed a six-album recording contract with EMI[4] and changed their name at EMI's request. "Radiohead" was taken from the song "Radio Head" on the Talking Heads album True Stories (1986).[4]

Recording

Radiohead recorded Drill at Courtyard Studios in Oxon, England.[5] It was produced by Radiohead's manager, Chris Hufford. Hufford said this was a mistake, as it created a conflict of interest and generated friction in the studio.[6] Drill featured two new recordings, "Prove Yourself" and "Stupid Car"; the other songs were taken from Radiohead's Manic Hedgehog demo.[5]

Release

Drill was released on 5 May, 1992.[5] It reached number 101 on the UK Singles Chart. The Guardian described it as an "inauspicious start" that was "largely ignored".[7] Radiohead toured with Catherine Wheel and the Sultans of Ping in support of Drill.[8] "Prove Yourself" was played on BBC Radio 1 by Gary Davies, Radiohead's first national radio exposure in the UK.[5]

In 1995, Record Collector described Drill as "abrasive and melancholic by turns", with "the first in a long history of nihilistic one-liners that suggested Thom's worldview was one of genuine self-loathing rather than bathetic self-pity".[3] The music journalist Mac Randall wrote later: "Even as early as 1992, Thom Yorke's graceful, arrestingly plaintive vocal style was well developed, far more so than the band's songwriting or overall sound."[5]

Radiohead rerecorded "You", "Prove Yourself" and "Thinking About You" for their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993).[5] Capitol reissued Drill on vinyl in April 2009.[9] It was added to streaming services in January 2020.[10]

Track listing

Drill track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Prove Yourself"2:32
2."Stupid Car"2:25
3."You"3:22
4."Thinking About You"2:17
Total length:10:36

Personnel

Credits taken from the Drill credits.

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. ^ 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. ^ a b Gilbert, Pat (November 1996). "Radiohead". Record Collector.
  4. ^ a b Ross, Alex (20 August 2001). "The Searchers". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Randall, Mac (2011). Exit Music: The Radiohead Story. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1849384576.
  6. ^ Irvin, Jim; Hoskyns, Barney (July 1997). "We have lift-off!". Mojo (45).
  7. ^ Nestruck, Kelly (2007-10-09). "15 years of Radiohead". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  8. ^ Gilbert, Pat (November 1996). "Radiohead". Record Collector.
  9. ^ Dombal, Ryan (2009-01-12). "Capitol Whore Out Radiohead Catalogue With Vinyl Single Reissues". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  10. ^ "Radiohead launch online 'public library' to let fans stream rare EPs for the first time". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
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