This is the discography for the British musician/singer-songwriter David Sylvian as a solo artist. For information about the discography of Japan, see Japan discography.
Albums Studio albums TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertificationsUKAUSBE (FL)GERITJPNNLNORNZSWEBrilliant Trees Released: 25 June 1984 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, LP, MC496——23167—3733 UK: GoldAlchemy: An Index of Possibilities Released: 9 December 1985 Label: Virgin Formats: MC——————————Gone to Earth Released: 1 September 1986 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, 2xLP, MC2494——22526—4630 UK: SilverSecrets of the Beehive Released: 26 October 1987 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, LP, MC3791——196131——46Dead Bees on a Cake Released: 29 March 1999 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, MC, MD31—446420—6621—52Blemish Released: 3 May 2003 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, LP, digital download————58199————When Loud Weather Buffeted Naoshima Released: 6 August 2007 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, digital download——————————Manafon Released: 14 September 2009 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, digital download112—63—51—93——50There's a Light That Enters Houses with No Other House in Sight Released: 24 November 2014 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, digital download——————————The Distance Between the Killer and the Killing Released: 26 February 2027 Label: Nanoq Formats: CD, LP, digital download"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Collaborative albums With Holger Czukay TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsUKBENLPlight & Premonition Released: 21 March 1988 Label: Venture Formats: CD, LP, MC71130171Flux + Mutability Released: 4 September 1989 Label: Venture, Virgin Formats: CD, LP, MC—"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Notes
With Russell Mills TitleDetailsEmber Glance: The Permanence of Memory Released: 4 November 1991 Label: Venture, Virgin Formats: CD
With Robert Fripp TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsUKSWEThe First Day Released: 5 July 1993 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, 2xLP, MC2134Darshan (The Road to Graceland) Released: 6 December 1993 Label: Virgin Remix album Formats: CD, LP, MC——Damage: Live Released: 26 September 1994 Label: Virgin Live album Formats: CD——"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
With Nine Horses TitleDetailsPeak chartpositionsUKITSnow Borne Sorrow Released: 17 October 2005 Label: Samadhi Sound13723Money for All Released: 22 January 2007 Label: Samadhi Sound Mini-album / EP——"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
With Jan Bang, Erik Honoré, Arve Henriksen and Sidsel Endresen TitleDetailsUncommon Deities Released: 24 September 2012 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD
With Stephan Mathieu TitleDetailsWandermüde Released: 10 December 2012 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, digital download
With Rhodri Davies and Mark Wastell TitleDetailsThere Is No Love Released: 31 May 2017 Label: Confront Recordings Mini-album Formats: CD
Compilation albums TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsUKBEITNLApproaching Silence Released: 5 October 1999 Label: Virgin Formats: CD————Everything and Nothing Released: 9 October 2000 Label: Virgin Formats: 2xCD, 2xMC, 2xMD57—45—Camphor Released: 27 May 2002 Label: Venture, Virgin Formats: 2xCD, MC99———Sleepwalkers Released: 21 September 2010 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD104898776A Victim of Stars 1982–2012 Released: 27 February 2012 Label: Virgin/EMI Formats: 2xCD, digital download58626499"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Remix albums TitleDetailsPeak chartpositionsITThe Good Son vs. The Only Daughter Released: 7 February 2005 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, digital download—Died in the Wool – Manafon Variations Released: 18 May 2011 Label: Samadhisound Formats: 2xCD, digital download98"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Box sets TitleDetailsNotesWeatherbox Released: 13 November 1989 Label: Virgin Formats: 5xCDLimited edition release featuring Sylvian's studio releases to that point, with the instrumental half of Gone to Earth presented in its entirety on one disc.Samadhisound 2003–2014 – Do You Know Me Now? Released: 4 August 2023 Label: Universal Formats: 10xCDLimited edition release featuring Sylvian's solo and collaborative work released on Samadhisound. Includes 100-page hardback book of essays and artwork.
EPs TitleDetailsPeak chartpositionsUKForbidden Colours / Nightporter Released: 1983 Label: Virgin Formats: 12" Germany-only release
"Forbidden Colours" is by Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto, whilst "Nightporter" is by Japan—Words with the Shaman Released: 2 December 1985 Label: Virgin Formats: 12"72Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II) (with Ryuichi Sakamoto) Released: 1 June 1992 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, MC58Godman Released: 6 September 1999 Label: Venture, Virgin Formats: CD—World Citizen (with Ryuichi Sakamoto) Released: 8 October 2003 (Japan); 21 April 2004 (UK) Label: Warner (Japan); Samadhisound (UK) Formats: CD, digital download—Playing the Schoolhouse Released: 10 October 2015 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, digital download—"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Singles SingleYearPeak chart positionsAlbumUKAUSFRAICEIREJPNOkamoto, Satoshi (2011). Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968–2010. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. (in Japanese)."Bamboo Houses" / "Bamboo Music" (with Ryuichi Sakamoto)198230————63 "Forbidden Colours" (with Ryuichi Sakamoto)198316292411532Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence soundtrack"Red Guitar"198417———13—Brilliant Trees"The Ink in the Well"36———28—"Pulling Punches"56—————"Taking the Veil"198653———28—Gone to Earth"Silver Moon"83—————"Buoy" (Mick Karn featuring David Sylvian)198763—————Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters"Let the Happiness In"66—————Secrets of the Beehive"Orpheus"1988——————"Pop Song"198983————— "Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)" (with Ryuichi Sakamoto)19925869————Heartbeat"Jean the Birdman" (with Robert Fripp)199368—————The First Day"I Surrender"199940—————Dead Bees on a Cake"World Citizen" (with Ryuichi Sakamoto)2003—————34 rowspan="2" "Do You Know Me Now?"2013——————"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Videos Video albums TitleDetailsPreparations for a Journey Released: 21 February 1985 Label: Victor Formats: VHS, Betamax Japan-only releaseSteel Cathedrals Released: 14 December 1985 Label: Virgin Formats: VHS Limited releaseRed Guitar / The Ink in the Well / Silver Moon Released: January 1987 Label: Virgin Formats: VHS, LaserDiscWeatherbox Released: August 1989 Label: Virgin Formats: VHS Promotional releaseLive in Japan (with Robert Fripp) Released: 4 December 1994 Label: VAP Formats: VHS, LaserDisc Japan-only releaseAmplified Gesture Released: 23 January 2013 Label: Samadhisound Formats: DVD
Music videos TitleYear"Bamboo Music"1982"Forbidden Colours"1983"Red Guitar"1984"The Ink in the Well""Pulling Punches""Silver Moon"1986"Orpheus"1988"Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)"1992"I Surrender"1999
Contributions YearSongArtistAlbumContribution1982"Good Night"Akiko YanoAi Ga Nakucha NeVocals"Kanashikute Yarikirenai"Guitar"Demain"Pierre BarouhLe PollenSpoken words"Le Pollen"Spoken words in conversation"Living on the Front Line"Sandii & the SunsetzImmigrantsBacking vocals, synthesizer, lyrics"Where the Fire Still Burns"Backing vocals, lyrics"Illusion"1983"Forbidden Colours"David Sylvian and Ryuichi SakamotoMerry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence soundtrack by Ryuichi SakamotoVocals, lyrics1985"p:Machinery"PropagandaA Secret WishKeyboard1986"This is Not Enough"Sandii & The SunsetzLa La La La Love~Banzai BabyBacking vocals, keyboards, lyrics, music"Some Small Hope"Virginia AstleyHope in a Darkened HeartVocals"Buoy"Mick Karn featuring David SylvianDreams of Reason Produce Monsters by Mick KarnVocals, lyrics"When Love Walks In"Mick Karn"Land"Additional keyboards1987"Perfect Days"Masami TsuchiyaLife in MirrorsElectric guitar, piano1992"Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II) – Returning to the Womb"David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto featuring Ingrid ChavezHeartbeat by Ryuichi SakamotoVocals, lyrics, music"Cloud #9"Ryuichi SakamotoVocals, lyrics"First Evening"Hector ZazouSahara BlueGuitar"Ophélie"Music"Youth"Guitar"Sahara Blue"Walkie-talkie vocals"To a Reason"Vocals, guitar, lyrics; credited as Mr. X"Victim of Stars"Vocals, lyrics, music; credited as Mr. X"Lettre au Directeur des Messageries Maritimes"Ending vocals (as Mr. X), lyrics1995"Come Morning"Nicola Alesini & Pier Luigi AndreoniMarco PoloVocals, lyrics, music"The Golden Way""Maya"1996"Ti ho aspettato (I Have Waited for You)"Andrea ChimentiL'albero pazzoVocals, lyrics"How Safe Is Deep?"Russell MillsUndark: Strange FamiliarVocals, lyrics, music1997"Penguin Freud"MonoFormica BluesSample of "Answered Prayers" from Gone to Earth1998"Salvation"Ryuichi SakamotoDiscordLyrics"I Was Waving at You"Ana VoogAnavoog.comMusic1999"Rooms of Sixteen Shimmers"Russell MillsPearl and UmbraVocals, lyrics"Forbidden Colours" (New Version)Ryuichi SakamotoCinemage2001"Zero Landmine"N.M.L. (No More Landmine) (Ryuichi Sakamoto and others)Zero Landmine"Zero Landmine – Short Version""Sugarfuel"Readymade FCBold"Linoleum"Tweaker featuring David SylvianThe Attraction to All Things Uncertain by Tweaker2004"World Citizen (I Won't Be Disappointed)"Ryuichi Sakamoto and David SylvianChasm by Ryuichi Sakamoto"Transit"FenneszVenice"Pure Genius"Tweaker featuring David Sylvian2 a.m. Wakeup Call by Tweaker"Exit / Delete"Takagi Masakatsu featuring David SylvianCoieda by Takagi Masakatsu"For the Love of Life" (Ending Theme Full Version)Kuniaki HaishimaMonster soundtrack"Messenger"Blonde RedheadEquusVocals"As Long as I Can Hold My Breath"Harold BuddAvalon SutraProducer; also art director of album2005"A Fire in the Forest" (Remix)Readymade FCBabiloniaVocals, lyrics"Matière pensante"Hector ZazouQuadri + ChromiesVocals2006"The Librarian"Burnt Friedman & Jaki Liebezeit featuring David SylvianSecret Rhythms 2 by Burnt Friedman & Jaki LiebezeitVocals, lyrics"Angels"PunktCrime Scenes2007"Playground Martyrs"Steve JansenSlope"Ballad of a Deadman"Vocals, lyrics, guitar"Cancelled Pieces"Guitar2008"Honor Wishes"Joan As Police Woman featuring David SylvianTo Survive by Joan As Police WomanVocals"No Question""Before and Afterlife"Arve HenriksenCartographyVocals, lyrics, sampling, programming"Thermal"Vocals, lyrics2009"Jacqueline"David SylvianThe Believer (The 2009 Music Issue) by various artists2010Little Girls with 99 Lives (EP)Ingrid ChavezLittle Girls with 99 Lives (EP)Lyrics, music, instruments, co-producer2012"Nothing Is Happening Everywhere"LandNight WithinVocals, lyrics2017"Life, Life"Ryuichi SakamotoasyncVocals2020"Like Planets [unreel]"Mark WastellNoneField recordings, poetry fragments2022"Grains (Sweet Paulownia Wood)"David Sylvian A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto – To the Moon and BackVocals, producer
References