Secrets of the Beehive

Secrets of the Beehive is a solo album by British singer-songwriter David Sylvian and was released in 1987. Reportedly written in one sitting over a couple of weeks Secrets was his most intimate to date and used more acoustic instruments than ever before. By many regarded as his finest solo work. Produced by Steve Nye and David Sylvian, the album features Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Torn, Mark Isham and Steve Jansen among others. The album peaked at no.37 in the UK album chart.[4]

Secrets of the Beehive
Studio album by
David Sylvian
Released7 November 1987
Recorded1987, London and Bath, England; Chateau Miraval, Le Val, France; Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, The Netherlands
GenreArt rock, avant-garde
Length34:30 original LP
40:31 CD reissue
43:59 Japanese CD
LabelVirgin
ProducerSteve Nye
David Sylvian chronology
Gone to Earth
(1986)		 Secrets of the Beehive
(1987)		 Plight & Premonition
(1988)
Singles from Secrets of the Beehive
  1. "Let the Happiness In"
    Released: September 1987
  2. "Orpheus"
    Released: May 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Mojo[2]
Pitchfork9.1/10[3]

In 2003, a remastered limited digipak version of Secrets.. was released with the bonus track from the Japanese version Promise replacing the original CD bonus track Forbidden Colours (version), which was a re-recorded version of the Sakamoto/Sylvian collaboration originally intended for Brilliant Trees, but eventually released as b-side to the Red Guitar single. In 2006 it was reissued in a standard jewel-case.

In February 2019, as part of a redesigned monochrome sleeved vinyl reissue batch of his 80s albums, Secrets.. was released in a gatefold sleeve with different type fonts, but otherwise maintaining the original artwork.

Track listing

All tracks are written by David Sylvian, except as noted.

No.TitleLength
1."September"1:17
2."The Boy With the Gun"5:19
3."Maria"2:49
4."Orpheus"4:51
5."The Devil's Own"3:12
6."When Poets Dreamed of Angels"4:51
7."Mother and Child"3:15
8."Let the Happiness In"5:37
9."Waterfront"3:23
Total length:34:34
Original CD bonus track
No.TitleLength
10."Forbidden Colours (Version)" (Sylvian/Ryuichi Sakamoto)6:01
2003 CD bonus track
No.TitleLength
10."Promise (The Cult of Eurydice)"3:28

Personnel
  • David Sylvian – vocals, piano (1), acoustic guitar (2, 4, 6), organ (2, 8), synths (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10), tapes (3, 5), treated piano (5)
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto – string arrangement (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10), organ (2, 3, 5, 7, 8), synths (2, 4, 8), piano (4, 5, 7, 9, 10), treated piano (3), woodwind arrangement (5), brass arrangement (8)
  • Steve Jansen – drums (4, 8, 10)
  • David Torn – electric guitar (2, 7), guitar loop (3)
  • Danny Thompson – double bass (2, 4, 7)
  • Danny Cummings – percussion (2, 6, 7, 8)
  • Phil Palmer – slide guitar (4), acoustic guitars (6)
  • Mark Isham – flugelhorn (4,8), trumpet (6, 8)
  • Brian Gascoigne – orchestral arrangement (4), string arrangement (8)
  • Ann O'Dell – string arrangement (10)

Technical personnel
  • Steve Nye – producer, mixing, engineer
  • David Sylvian – assistant producer, assistant mixing
  • Peter Williams – co-engineer (10)
  • Richard Moakes – second engineer
  • Steve Parker – second engineer
  • John Timperley – second engineer
  • Jean-Jacques Lemoine – assistant engineer
  • Roland Prent – assistant engineer
  • Steve Williams – assistant engineer
  • Richard Chadwick – recording co-ordinating
  • Catherine Wilson – assistant in recording
  • Vaughan Oliver (23 Envelope) – design, typography
  • Nigel Grierson (23 Envelope) – still life photography
  • Yuka Fujii – portrait photography

Charts
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 91
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) 37

References
  1. Ankeny, Jason. "Secrets of the Beehive – David Sylvian". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  2. Eccleston, Danny (April 2019). "Ghosts busters". Mojo (305): 100.
  3. Sodomsky, Sam (23 February 2019). "David Sylvian: Secrets of the Beehive / Brilliant Trees / Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities / Gone to Earth". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  4. David Sylvian the official charts
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 303. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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