# 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.

## Albums
### Studio albums

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Details | UK | AUS | BE (FL) | GER | IT | JPN | NL | NOR | NZ | SWE | Certifications |
| Brilliant Trees | Released: 25 June 1984 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, LP, MC | 4 | 96 | — | — | 23 | 16 | 7 | — | 37 | 33 | UK: Gold |
| 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 |
| 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 | — | 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 | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | UK | BE | NL |
| Plight & Premonition | Released: 21 March 1988 Label: Venture Formats: CD, LP, MC | 71 | 130 | 171 |
| Flux + Mutability | Released: 4 September 1989 Label: Venture, Virgin Formats: CD, LP, MC | — | 130 | 171 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |||||
Notes
* 1 2 Charted upon re-release by Grönland Records in 2018 as a repackaged 2-CD set

#### 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 | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | UK | SWE |
| The First Day | Released: 10 August 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: 1 October 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 | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | UK | IT |
| 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 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 Label: Confront Recordings Mini-album Formats: CD |

### Compilation albums

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | UK | BE | IT | NL |
| 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 | 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 |
| Title | Details | IT |
| 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 n that territory. |||

### Box sets

| Title | Details | Notes |
| Weatherbox | Released: 13 November 1989 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. |

## EPs

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | UK |
| 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 | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Single | Year | UK | AUS | FRA | ICE | IRE | JPN | Album |
| "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" | 1984 | 36 | — | — | — | 28 | — | Brilliant Trees |
| "Pulling Punches" | 1984 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | Brilliant Trees |
| "Taking the Veil" | 1986 | 53 | — | — | — | 28 | — | Gone to Earth |
| "Silver Moon" | 1986 | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | Gone to Earth |
| "Buoy" (Mick Karn featuring David Sylvian) | 1987 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters |
| "Let the Happiness In" | 1987 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | Secrets of the Beehive |
| "Orpheus" | 1988 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Secrets of the Beehive |
| "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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "—" 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" | 1984 |
| "Pulling Punches" | 1984 |
| "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 |
| 1982 | "Kanashikute Yarikirenai" | Akiko Yano | Ai Ga Nakucha Ne | Guitar |
| 1982 | "Demain" | Pierre Barouh | Le Pollen | Spoken words |
| 1982 | "Le Pollen" | Pierre Barouh | Le Pollen | Spoken words in conversation |
| 1982 | "Living on the Front Line" | Sandii & the Sunsetz | Immigrants | Backing vocals, synthesizer, lyrics |
| 1982 | "Where the Fire Still Burns" | Sandii & the Sunsetz | Immigrants | Backing vocals, lyrics |
| 1982 | "Illusion" | Sandii & the Sunsetz | Immigrants | Backing vocals, lyrics |
| 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 |
| 1986 | "Some Small Hope" | Virginia Astley | Hope in a Darkened Heart | Vocals |
| 1986 | "Buoy" | Mick Karn featuring David Sylvian | Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters by Mick Karn | Vocals, lyrics |
| 1986 | "When Love Walks In" | Mick Karn | Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters by Mick Karn | Vocals, lyrics |
| 1986 | "Land" | Mick Karn | Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters by Mick Karn | 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 |
| 1992 | "Cloud #9" | Ryuichi Sakamoto | Heartbeat by Ryuichi Sakamoto | Vocals, lyrics |
| 1992 | "First Evening" | Hector Zazou | Sahara Blue | Guitar |
| 1992 | "Ophélie" | Hector Zazou | Sahara Blue | Music |
| 1992 | "Youth" | Hector Zazou | Sahara Blue | Guitar |
| 1992 | "Sahara Blue" | Hector Zazou | Sahara Blue | Walkie-talkie vocals |
| 1992 | "To a Reason" | Hector Zazou | Sahara Blue | Vocals, guitar, lyrics; credited as Mr. X |
| 1992 | "Victim of Stars" | Hector Zazou | Sahara Blue | Vocals, lyrics, music; credited as Mr. X |
| 1992 | "Lettre au Directeur des Messageries Maritimes" | Hector Zazou | Sahara Blue | Ending vocals (as Mr. X), lyrics |
| 1995 | "Come Morning" | Nicola Alesini & Pier Luigi Andreoni | Marco Polo | Vocals, lyrics, music |
| 1995 | "The Golden Way" | Nicola Alesini & Pier Luigi Andreoni | Marco Polo | Vocals, lyrics, music |
| 1995 | "Maya" | Nicola Alesini & Pier Luigi Andreoni | Marco Polo | Vocals, lyrics, music |
| 1996 | "Ti Ho Aspettato (I Have Waited for You)" | Andrea Chimenti | L'Albero Pazzo | Vocals, lyrics |
| 1996 | "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 |
| 1998 | "I Was Waving at You" | Ana Voog | Anavoog.com | Music |
| 1999 | "Rooms of Sixteen Shimmers" | Russell Mills | Pearl and Umbra | Vocals, lyrics |
| 1999 | "Forbidden Colours" (New Version) | Ryuichi Sakamoto | Cinemage | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2001 | "Zero Landmine" | N.M.L. (No More Landmine) (Ryuichi Sakamoto and others) | Zero Landmine | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2001 | "Zero Landmine – Short Version" | N.M.L. (No More Landmine) (Ryuichi Sakamoto and others) | Zero Landmine | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2001 | "Sugarfuel" | Readymade FC | Bold | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2001 | "Linoleum" | Tweaker featuring David Sylvian | The Attraction to All Things Uncertain by Tweaker | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2004 | "World Citizen (I Won't Be Disappointed)" | Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian | Chasm by Ryuichi Sakamoto | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2004 | "Transit" | Fennesz | Venice | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2004 | "Pure Genius" | Tweaker featuring David Sylvian | 2 a.m. Wakeup Call by Tweaker | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2004 | "Exit / Delete" | Takagi Masakatsu featuring David Sylvian | Coieda by Takagi Masakatsu | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2004 | "For the Love of Life" (Ending Theme Full Version) | Kuniaki Haishima | Monster soundtrack | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2004 | "Messenger" | Blonde Redhead | Equus | Vocals |
| 2004 | "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 |
| 2005 | "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 |
| 2006 | "Angels" | Punkt | Crime Scenes | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2007 | "Playground Martyrs" | Steve Jansen | Slope | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2007 | "Ballad of a Deadman" | Steve Jansen | Slope | Vocals, lyrics, guitar |
| 2007 | "Cancelled Pieces" | Steve Jansen | Slope | Guitar |
| 2008 | "Honor Wishes" | Joan As Police Woman featuring David Sylvian | To Survive by Joan As Police Woman | Vocals |
| 2008 | "No Question" | Joan As Police Woman featuring David Sylvian | To Survive by Joan As Police Woman | Vocals |
| 2008 | "Before and Afterlife" | Arve Henriksen | Cartography | Vocals, lyrics, sampling, programming |
| 2008 | "Thermal" | Arve Henriksen | Cartography | Vocals, lyrics |
| 2009 | "Jacqueline" | David Sylvian | The Believer (The 2009 Music Issue) by various artists | Vocals, lyrics |
| 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 |
| 2017 | "Life, Life" | Ryuichi Sakamoto | async | Vocals |
| 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 |