A Moon Shaped Pool cover art

  Studio Album · No. 9

A Moon Shaped Pool Songwriting Credits by Radiohead

2016 XL Recordings 11 tracks 52 min

Produced by Nigel Godrich, Radiohead  ·  Engineered by Nigel Godrich, Sam Petts-Davies, Maxime LeGuil

XL Recordings Art RockChamber MusicBaroque PopAmbientPost-Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Radiohead carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
11 trackswritten by Radiohead 0 tracksoutside writers
Radiohead's roles on this album

Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
5
Lyricists
2
Producers
2016
Released
Data Insight

In keeping with Radiohead's standard practice, all eleven songs on A Moon Shaped Pool are credited collectively to the five band members rather than to individual writers. Nigel Godrich produced, engineered and mixed the album with the band, with additional engineering from Sam Petts-Davies. A defining feature of the record is Jonny Greenwood's orchestral arrangements, performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra under conductor Hugh Brunt, whose strings and choir shape tracks such as 'Burn the Witch' and 'Daydreaming.' Those arrangements give the album a denser, more classical texture than the band's earlier electronic-leaning work.

Radiohead's ninth and most recent studio album, released May 8, 2016. A Moon Shaped Pool is the band's most orchestral record, featuring string arrangements by Jonny Greenwood throughout. All 11 tracks are credited collectively to Radiohead. Several songs are reworkings of material the band had been performing live for years but had never committed to record, most notably 'True Love Waits', debuted in concert in 1995 and finally recorded here as a spare piano ballad. The album debuted at number one in the UK and was widely praised as a late-career masterwork.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Burn the Witch #64
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
2
Daydreaming
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
3
Decks Dark
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
4
Desert Island Disk
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
5
Ful Stop
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
6
Glass Eyes
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
7
Identikit
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
8
The Numbers
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
9
Present Tense
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
10
Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
11
True Love Waits
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Nigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 7 contributors

More from Radiohead

Frequently Asked Questions A Moon Shaped Pool

Did Radiohead write A Moon Shaped Pool themselves?
Yes. All eleven songs on A Moon Shaped Pool are credited collectively to Radiohead's five members: Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway. The band maintains this shared-credit convention across its catalog rather than naming individual songwriters. Nigel Godrich produced and engineered the album with the band.
Who arranged the orchestra on A Moon Shaped Pool?
Jonny Greenwood arranged the strings and choir on A Moon Shaped Pool, performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra and conducted by Hugh Brunt. The orchestral writing is central to the album's sound, especially on 'Burn the Witch' and 'Daydreaming.' Greenwood's classical scoring experience shaped the record's chamber textures.
How was the orchestra used on Burn the Witch?
On 'Burn the Witch,' the London Contemporary Orchestra's string players struck their instruments with guitar plectrums rather than bowing them, producing a sharp, percussive col legno effect. The technique gives the song its distinctive jittery string sound. Jonny Greenwood arranged the part as part of the album's broader orchestral approach.
What chart position did Burn the Witch reach?
'Burn the Witch' reached number 64 on the UK Singles Chart after its release in May 2016. It served as the lead single from A Moon Shaped Pool and arrived with an animated stop-motion video. The song was also the album's first widely promoted track.
Who produced A Moon Shaped Pool?
Nigel Godrich produced A Moon Shaped Pool, again working as Radiohead's regular studio collaborator. He also engineered and mixed the record, with additional engineering from Sam Petts-Davies and Maxime LeGuil. Part of the album was recorded at La Fabrique Studio in France.
Did A Moon Shaped Pool win any awards?
A Moon Shaped Pool did not win major awards, though it was nominated for the Mercury Prize and received Grammy nominations at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Alternative Music Album. 'Burn the Witch' was nominated for Best Rock Song. None of these nominations resulted in wins.
What genre is A Moon Shaped Pool?
A Moon Shaped Pool is generally described as art rock with strong chamber music and baroque pop elements, alongside ambient and post-rock textures. Its orchestral arrangements give it a more classical character than much of Radiohead's earlier work. The album balances electronic touches with live strings and choir.

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