David Sylvian discography

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.

David Sylvian discography
Sylvian in November 1982
Studio albums	9
EPs	6
Compilation albums	5
Singles	15
Video albums	6
Music videos	9
Collaborative albums	9
Remix albums	2
Box sets	1

Albums

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions										Certifications
		UK [1]	AUS [2]	BE (FL) [3]	GER [4]	IT [5][6]	JPN [7]	NL [8]	NOR [9]	NZ [10]	SWE [11]
Brilliant Trees	Released: 25 June 1984 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, LP, MC	4	96	—	—	23	16	7	—	37	33	UK: Gold[12]
Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities	Released: 9 December 1985 Label: Virgin Formats: MC	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Gone to Earth	Released: 1 September 1986 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, 2xLP, MC	24	94	—	—	22	52	6	—	46	30	UK: Silver[12]
Secrets of the Beehive	Released: 19 October 1987 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, LP, MC	37	91	—	—	19	61	31	—	—	46
Dead Bees on a Cake	Released: 29 March 1999 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, MC, MD	31	—	44	64	20	—	66	21	—	52
Blemish	Released: 3 May 2003 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, LP, digital download	—	—	—	—	58	199	—	—	—	—
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 download	112[13]	—	63	—	51	—	93	—	—	50
There's a Light That Enters Houses with No Other House in Sight	Released: 24 November 2014 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Collaborative albums

With Holger Czukay

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		UK [1]	BE [3]	NL [8]
Plight & Premonition	Released: 21 March 1988 Label: Venture Formats: CD, LP, MC	71	130[A]	171[A]
Flux + 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

1. Charted upon re-release by Grönland Records in 2018 as a repackaged 2-CD set^[14]

With Russell Mills

Title	Details
Ember Glance: The Permanence of Memory	Released: 4 November 1991 Label: Venture, Virgin Formats: CD

With Robert Fripp

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		UK [1]	SWE [11]
The First Day	Released: 5 July 1993 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, 2xLP, MC	21	34
Darshan (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

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		UK [15]	IT [16]
Snow Borne Sorrow	Released: 17 October 2005 Label: Samadhi Sound	137	23
Money 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

Title	Details
Uncommon Deities	Released: 24 September 2012[17] Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD

With Stephan Mathieu

Title	Details
Wandermüde	Released: 10 December 2012 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD, digital download

With Rhodri Davies and Mark Wastell

Title	Details
There Is No Love	Released: 31 May 2017[18] Label: Confront Recordings Mini-album Formats: CD

Compilation albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		UK [1]	BE [3]	IT [6]	NL [8]
Approaching Silence	Released: 5 October 1999 Label: Virgin Formats: CD	—	—	—	—
Everything and Nothing	Released: 9 October 2000 Label: Virgin Formats: 2xCD, 2xMC, 2xMD	57	—	45	—
Camphor	Released: 27 May 2002 Label: Venture, Virgin Formats: 2xCD, MC	99	—	—	—
Sleepwalkers	Released: 21 September 2010 Label: Samadhisound Formats: CD	104[13]	89	87	76
A Victim of Stars 1982–2012	Released: 27 February 2012 Label: Virgin/EMI Formats: 2xCD, digital download	58	62	64	99
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Remix albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		IT [6]
The 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 download	98
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Box sets

Title	Details	Notes
Weatherbox	Released: 13 November 1989[19] Label: Virgin Formats: 5xCD	Limited 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[20] Label: Universal Formats: 10xCD	Limited edition release featuring Sylvian's solo and collaborative work released on Samadhisound. Includes 100-page hardback book of essays and artwork.

EPs

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		UK [1]
Forbidden 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"	72
Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II) (with Ryuichi Sakamoto)	Released: 1 June 1992 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, MC	58
Godman	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

Single	Year	Peak chart positions						Album
		UK [21][22]	AUS [23][24]	FRA [25]	ICE [26]	IRE [27]	JPN [28]
"Bamboo Houses" / "Bamboo Music" (with Ryuichi Sakamoto)	1982	30	—	—	—	—	63	Non-album single
"Forbidden Colours" (with Ryuichi Sakamoto)	1983	16	29	24	1	15	32	Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence soundtrack
"Red Guitar"	1984	17	—	—	—	13	—	Brilliant Trees
"The Ink in the Well"		36	—	—	—	28	—
"Pulling Punches"		56	—	—	—	—	—
"Taking the Veil"	1986	53	—	—	—	28	—	Gone to Earth
"Silver Moon"		83	—	—	—	—	—
"Buoy" (Mick Karn featuring David Sylvian)	1987	63	—	—	—	—	—	Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters
"Let the Happiness In"		66	—	—	—	—	—	Secrets of the Beehive
"Orpheus"	1988	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Pop Song"	1989	83	—	—	—	—	—	Non-album single
"Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)" (with Ryuichi Sakamoto)	1992	58	69	—	—	—	—	Heartbeat
"Jean the Birdman" (with Robert Fripp)	1993	68	—	—	—	—	—	The First Day
"I Surrender"	1999	40	—	—	—	—	—	Dead Bees on a Cake
"World Citizen" (with Ryuichi Sakamoto)	2003	—	—	—	—	—	34	Non-album singles
"Do You Know Me Now?"	2013	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Videos

Video albums

Title	Details
Preparations for a Journey	Released: 21 February 1985 Label: Victor Formats: VHS, Betamax Japan-only release
Steel Cathedrals	Released: 14 December 1985 Label: Virgin Formats: VHS Limited release
Red Guitar / The Ink in the Well / Silver Moon	Released: January 1987 Label: Virgin Formats: VHS, LaserDisc
Weatherbox	Released: August 1989 Label: Virgin Formats: VHS Promotional release
Live in Japan (with Robert Fripp)	Released: 4 December 1994 Label: VAP Formats: VHS, LaserDisc Japan-only release
Amplified Gesture	Released: 23 January 2013 Label: Samadhisound Formats: DVD

Music videos

Title	Year
"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

Year	Song	Artist	Album	Contribution
1982	"Good Night"	Akiko Yano	Ai Ga Nakucha Ne	Vocals[29]
	"Kanashikute Yarikirenai"			Guitar
	"Demain"	Pierre Barouh	Le Pollen	Spoken words
	"Le Pollen"			Spoken words in conversation[30]
	"Living on the Front Line"	Sandii & the Sunsetz	Immigrants	Backing vocals, synthesizer, lyrics[30]
	"Where the Fire Still Burns"			Backing vocals, lyrics
	"Illusion"
1983	"Forbidden Colours"	David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto	Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence soundtrack by Ryuichi Sakamoto	Vocals, lyrics
1985	"p:Machinery"	Propaganda	A Secret Wish	Keyboard
1986	"This is Not Enough"	Sandii & The Sunsetz	La La La La Love~Banzai Baby	Backing vocals, keyboards, lyrics, music
	"Some Small Hope"	Virginia Astley	Hope in a Darkened Heart	Vocals
	"Buoy"	Mick Karn featuring David Sylvian	Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters by Mick Karn	Vocals, lyrics
	"When Love Walks In"	Mick Karn
	"Land"			Additional keyboards
1987	"Perfect Days"	Masami Tsuchiya	Life in Mirrors	Electric guitar, piano
1992	"Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II) – Returning to the Womb"	David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto featuring Ingrid Chavez	Heartbeat by Ryuichi Sakamoto	Vocals, lyrics, music
	"Cloud #9"	Ryuichi Sakamoto		Vocals, lyrics
	"First Evening"	Hector Zazou	Sahara Blue	Guitar
	"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), lyrics
1995	"Come Morning"	Nicola Alesini & Pier Luigi Andreoni	Marco Polo	Vocals, lyrics, music
	"The Golden Way"
	"Maya"
1996	"Ti Ho Aspettato (I Have Waited for You)"	Andrea Chimenti	L'Albero Pazzo	Vocals, lyrics
	"How Safe Is Deep?"	Russell Mills	Undark: Strange Familiar	Vocals, lyrics, music
1997	"Penguin Freud"	Mono	Formica Blues	Sample of "Answered Prayers" from Gone to Earth
1998	"Salvation"	Ryuichi Sakamoto	Discord	Lyrics
	"I Was Waving at You"	Ana Voog	Anavoog.com	Music
1999	"Rooms of Sixteen Shimmers"	Russell Mills	Pearl and Umbra	Vocals, lyrics
	"Forbidden Colours" (New Version)	Ryuichi Sakamoto	Cinemage
2001	"Zero Landmine"	N.M.L. (No More Landmine) (Ryuichi Sakamoto and others)	Zero Landmine
	"Zero Landmine – Short Version"
	"Sugarfuel"	Readymade FC	Bold
	"Linoleum"	Tweaker featuring David Sylvian	The Attraction to All Things Uncertain by Tweaker
2004	"World Citizen (I Won't Be Disappointed)"	Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian	Chasm by Ryuichi Sakamoto
	"Transit"	Fennesz	Venice
	"Pure Genius"	Tweaker featuring David Sylvian	2 a.m. Wakeup Call by Tweaker
	"Exit / Delete"	Takagi Masakatsu featuring David Sylvian	Coieda by Takagi Masakatsu
	"For the Love of Life" (Ending Theme Full Version)	Kuniaki Haishima	Monster soundtrack
	"Messenger"	Blonde Redhead	Equus	Vocals
	"As Long as I Can Hold My Breath"	Harold Budd	Avalon Sutra	Producer; also art director of album
2005	"A Fire in the Forest" (Remix)	Readymade FC	Babilonia	Vocals, lyrics
	"Matière Pensante"	Hector Zazou	Quadri + Chromies	Vocals
2006	"The Librarian"	Burnt Friedman & Jaki Liebezeit featuring David Sylvian	Secret Rhythms 2 by Burnt Friedman & Jaki Liebezeit	Vocals, lyrics
	"Angels"	Punkt	Crime Scenes
2007	"Playground Martyrs"	Steve Jansen	Slope
	"Ballad of a Deadman"			Vocals, lyrics, guitar
	"Cancelled Pieces"			Guitar
2008	"Honor Wishes"	Joan As Police Woman featuring David Sylvian	To Survive by Joan As Police Woman	Vocals
	"No Question"
	"Before and Afterlife"	Arve Henriksen	Cartography	Vocals, lyrics, sampling, programming
	"Thermal"			Vocals, lyrics
2009	"Jacqueline"	David Sylvian	The Believer (The 2009 Music Issue) by various artists
2010	Little Girls With 99 Lives (EP)	Ingrid Chavez	Little Girls With 99 Lives (EP)	Lyrics, music, instruments, co-producer
2012	"Nothing Is Happening Everywhere"	Land	Night Within	Vocals, lyrics[31]
2017	"Life, Life"	Ryuichi Sakamoto	async	Vocals[32]
2020	"Like Planets [unreel]"	Mark Wastell	None	Field recordings, poetry fragments
2022	"Grains (Sweet Paulownia Wood)"	David Sylvian	A Tribute To Ryuichi Sakamoto – To The Moon And Back	Vocals, Producer