The Bends cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

The Bends Songwriting Credits by Radiohead

1995 Parlophone 12 tracks 49 min

Produced by John Leckie, Nigel Godrich, Radiohead  ·  Engineered by Nigel Godrich, John Leckie

Parlophone Alternative RockArt RockBritpop
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 12 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 12 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Radiohead carries a lyricist or composer credit.

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

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer92%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
5
Lyricists
4
Producers
2 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1995
Released
Data Insight

Every song on The Bends is credited collectively to the five members of Radiohead (Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, and Phil Selway), keeping the band's shared songwriting convention. The album was produced by John Leckie, with Nigel Godrich engineering, the start of Godrich's long working relationship with the band as their primary producer from this point forward. The record's denser arrangements and guitar interplay marked a step beyond the debut, though the writing remained a group effort rather than the work of any single member.

Radiohead's second studio album, released March 13, 1995. Produced primarily by John Leckie with additional production by Nigel Godrich (then the band's engineer) and the band themselves, The Bends is a leap forward from Pablo Honey in melodic ambition and emotional range. From The Bends onward, all Radiohead albums credit songwriting collectively to the full band rather than separating Thom Yorke's lyrics from the group's music. 'High and Dry' was recorded separately in 1993 at Courtyard Studios with engineer Jim Warren, predating the main sessions. The album's critical success established Radiohead as one of the foremost bands of the Britpop era despite operating apart from that movement's aesthetic.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Planet Telex
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
2
The Bends
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
3
High and Dry
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Jim Warren Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
4
Fake Plastic Trees #20
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
5
Bones
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
6
(Nice Dream)
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
7
Just #19
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
8
My Iron Lung
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
9
Bullet Proof... I Wish I Was
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
10
Black Star
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
11
Sulk
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)
12
Street Spirit (Fade Out) #5
Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway Thom YorkeJonny GreenwoodColin GreenwoodEd O'BrienPhil Selway John LeckieNigel GodrichRadiohead Thom Yorke (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 9 contributors

More from Radiohead

Frequently Asked Questions The Bends

Did Radiohead write The Bends themselves?
Yes. All songs on The Bends are credited collectively to the five members of Radiohead: Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, and Phil Selway. The band shares songwriting credit on every track rather than assigning individual authorship.
Who produced Radiohead's The Bends?
The Bends was produced by John Leckie, with Nigel Godrich serving as recording engineer. The album marked the beginning of Godrich's long collaboration with Radiohead, and he would go on to co-produce their later records.
What was the highest-charting single from The Bends?
'Street Spirit (Fade Out)' was the album's highest-charting single, reaching number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. It outperformed the earlier singles 'Fake Plastic Trees' and 'Just,' which reached numbers 20 and 19 respectively.
How did Fake Plastic Trees perform on the charts?
'Fake Plastic Trees' reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart. Despite its modest chart placing, it became one of the most enduring songs from The Bends and a staple of Radiohead's live sets.
When was The Bends released and on what label?
The Bends was released in 1995 on Parlophone in the UK and Capitol Records in the US. It was Radiohead's second studio album, running about 49 minutes across 12 tracks.
How many copies has The Bends sold?
The Bends had sold around 2 million copies worldwide by the end of 1996. It is certified 4x Platinum in the UK, Platinum in the US, and 3x Platinum in Canada.
Is Nigel Godrich connected to The Bends?
Yes. Nigel Godrich engineered The Bends, his first major work with Radiohead. The collaboration led to him producing the band's following album, OK Computer, and becoming their long-term studio partner.

Sources