The Ink in the Well

Last updated
"The Ink in the Well"
David Sylvian - The Ink in the Well.jpg
Single by David Sylvian
from the album Brilliant Trees
B-side "Weathered Wall" (Instrumental)
Released6 August 1984 (1984-08-06) [1]
Recorded1983–1984, London, Berlin
Genre Art rock
Length4:30
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s) David Sylvian
Producer(s)
David Sylvian singles chronology
"Red Guitar"
(1984)
"The Ink in the Well"
(1984)
"Pulling Punches"
(1984)
Music video
"The Ink in the Well" on YouTube

"The Ink in the Well" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Sylvian. It was released in August 1984 as the second single from his debut solo album Brilliant Trees . The single peaked at No. 36 on the UK Singles Chart. [2]

Contents

Reception

Reviewing the song for Record Mirror , Eden wrote "Mention David Sylvian and the adjectives that immediately spring to mind are sensitive, delicate, moody. 'Ink in the Well' lives up to David's reputation, it's accomplished with endearing lyrics and an interesting jazzy interlude occurs halfway through the song". [3]

Personnel

On "The Ink in the Well":

On "Weathered Wall":

Technical:

Chart positions

Chart (1984)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA) [4] 28
UK Singles (OCC) [5] 36

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japan (band)</span> English new wave band

Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian, Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn, joined the following year by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean. Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences.

<i>Gone to Earth</i> (David Sylvian album) 1986 studio album by David Sylvian

Gone to Earth is the third solo studio album by English singer-songwriter David Sylvian, released on 1 September 1986 on Virgin Records. A double album, Gone to Earth is the follow-up to his debut record, Brilliant Trees, and peaked at No. 24 in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Brilliant Trees</i> 1984 studio album by David Sylvian

Brilliant Trees is the debut solo studio album by the English musician David Sylvian, released on 25 June 1984 by Virgin Records. The album peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.

<i>Tin Drum</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Japan

Tin Drum is the fifth and final studio album by English band Japan, released in November 1981 by Virgin Records. It peaked at No. 12 on the UK charts, and featured the top 5 single "Ghosts". It has received acclaim as the band's best and most original work.

<i>Gentlemen Take Polaroids</i> 1980 studio album by Japan

Gentlemen Take Polaroids is the fourth studio album by the English band Japan, released in November 1980 by Virgin Records.

<i>Quiet Life</i> 1979 studio album by Japan

Quiet Life is the third studio album by English new wave band Japan, first released on 17 November 1979 in Canada by record label Hansa.

<i>Oil on Canvas</i> 1983 live album by Japan

Oil on Canvas is a live album by the English band Japan, released in June 1983 by Virgin Records. It was released six months after the band had broken up, and became their highest charting album in the UK, peaking at number 5. It has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghosts (Japan song)</span> 1982 single by Japan

"Ghosts" is a song by English band Japan. It was released in edited form in March 1982 as the third single from their 1981 album Tin Drum.

<i>Assemblage</i> (album) 1981 compilation album by Japan

Assemblage is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released in September 1981 by Hansa Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamboo Houses</span> 1982 single by Ryuichi Sakamoto & David Sylvian

"Bamboo Houses" is a song by Japanese musician-composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and English singer-songwriter David Sylvian, released on Virgin Records in 1982. It reached number 30 in the UK charts in the second week of August 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forbidden Colours (song)</span> 1983 single by David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto

"Forbidden Colours" is a 1983 song by David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The song is the vocal version of the theme from the Nagisa Oshima film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. It appears on the film's soundtrack album and was released as a single on Virgin Records in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightporter</span> 1982 single by Japan

"Nightporter" is a song by English new wave band Japan. The song originally featured on the band's fourth album Gentlemen Take Polaroids in 1980. However, it was then remixed by Steve Nye and released as a single in November 1982. The single peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Guitar</span> 1984 single by David Sylvian

"Red Guitar" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Sylvian. Released in May 1984, it was his debut solo single and taken from his first solo album Brilliant Trees. It peaked at no.17 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visions of China</span> 1981 single by Japan

Visions of China is a song by English new wave band Japan, released in October 1981 as the second single from their 1981 album Tin Drum, which was released on 13 November. The single reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Art of Parties</span> 1981 single by Japan

The Art of Parties is a song by the British band Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cantonese Boy</span> 1982 single by Japan

"Cantonese Boy" is a song by English new wave band Japan, released in May 1982 as the fourth and final single from their 1981 album Tin Drum. The single peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart. The song refers to the enlistment of a Cantonese boy to the Chinese Red Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Son (Japan song)</span> 1982 single by Japan

"European Son" is a song by the British band Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gentlemen Take Polaroids (song)</span> 1980 single by Japan

"Gentlemen Take Polaroids" is a song by English new wave band Japan, released as a single from the album of the same name in October 1980. It was the band's first charting single in the UK, peaking at number 60.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D-Days</span> 1981 single by Hazel OConnor

"D-Days" is a song by British singer-songwriter Hazel O'Connor, released in March 1981 as a single from her second album, Sons and Lovers. The single was produced by Nigel Gray and remixed for single release by Tony Visconti, who had produced her previous album Breaking Glass. The song stands for 'Decadent Days' and was inspired by a trip to a night in London where there were lots of poseurs and "people looking very bizarre". It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton (song)</span> 1983 single by Japan

"Canton" is an instrumental song by English new wave band Japan. It was originally released on the album Tin Drum in 1981, and was then released as the only single from the live album Oil on Canvas in May 1983. It peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart.

References

  1. "News". Record Mirror : 6. 4 August 1984. Retrieved 14 December 2020 via flickr.com.
  2. "THE INK IN THE WELL". Official Charts. 1984-08-18. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  3. "Singles". Record Mirror : 13. 11 August 1984. Retrieved 14 December 2020 via flickr.com.
  4. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ink in the Well". Irish Singles Chart.
  5. "David Sylvian: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.