Mercury Falling

Alongside being used as the album's title, the phrase "mercury falling" appears as the first and last lyrics heard on the album. The lyric was the first written for the album (for "The Hounds of Winter"), and Sting later felt the phrase evoked the mood of the record and its variety of styles: "there are so many styles on this record and it darts around from genre to genre and back again. It's a very mercurial record, and it seemed to be the right thing to call the record."{{cite web |url= https://www.sting.com/discography/album/11 |website=sting.com |title=Mercury Falling Promotional Interview Disc |date=1996 |access-date=28 February 2023 |author=Sting}}

"I Hung My Head" is one of many songs on the album to be played in an odd time signature, in this case {{music|time|9|8}}. Johnny Cash performed a cover of the song on American IV: The Man Comes Around, his final studio album released during his lifetime. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" displays a significant soul influence; Sting has stated that the music of artists such as Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin heavily inspired the track.{{cite web |url= https://www.sting.com/discography/album/251 |website=sting.com |author=Sting |access-date=28 February 2023 |date=1996 |title=Mercury Falling Tour Programme}} Expanding on this theme, the Memphis Horns were brought in to play on the track. The lyrics were inspired by a friend who was suffering from AIDS, and how such an event can affect someone's outlook on life. Sting described the song as "a song about death, or dealing with death in a way that offers some sort of hope. I actually think it's quite an uplifting song - the intent is for it to be uplifting."{{cite web |url=https://www.sting.com/news/title/Interview:%20Q%20(1996) |title=Q – Sting Interview |access-date=25 February 2023 |date=May 1996 |website=sting.com}}

"I Was Brought to My Senses" is a song about gaining a greater appreciation for nature. It starts off as a folk ballad in {{music|time|6|8}}, before transitioning to the main part of the song, which features what Sting called "a Brazilian vibe" and is played in {{music|time|7|4}}.

The track "Twenty Five to Midnight" was excluded from the American and Canadian releases. It was included in the CD-Maxi Single of "You Still Touch Me", as the 4th track.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stingoop.com/disco/07mercury/mercury.htm|title = Mercury falling releases|website=Stingpop.com}} "La Belle Dame sans regrets" is sung entirely in French; its title translates to "the beautiful lady with no regrets". The song was co-written with Sting's guitarist Dominic Miller. Miller wrote the song's music as a tribute to Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim, composing it in his hotel room the day he heard about Jobim's death.{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Andy |title=The Dominic Miller Interview: 35 Years with Sting! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XhHtYfBto0&t=312s |website=YouTube |access-date=11 December 2024 |date=December 3, 2024}} Relevant content occurs at 1:29:08-1:29:59. Sting had guested on Jobim's album Antônio Brasileiro, which was released posthumously in 1994. "Valparaiso" was used during the closing credits of the 1996 film White Squall.

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mercury-falling-mw0000180829|title=Mercury Falling - Sting | Album|website=AllMusic|access-date=12 March 2025}}

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2score = {{Rating|2|4}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/03/14/dour-delivery/|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|work=Chicago Tribune |title= Dour Delivery|date=14 March 1996|access-date=4 February 2012}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score = (A−){{cite web|first=Tony|last=Scherman|title=Mercury Falling Review|url=https://ew.com/article/1996/03/15/mercury-falling/|work=ew.com|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=15 March 1996|access-date=22 April 2024}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-10-ca-47530-story.html|last=Hilburn|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Hilburn|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Sting Rises to New Level of Accessibility|date=10 March 1996|access-date=4 February 2012}}

| rev4 = Houston Chronicle

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1996_1329021/feeling-sting-without-the-pain.html|first=Bruce|last=Westbrook|work=Houston Chronicle|title=Feeling Sting without the pain|date=10 March 1996|access-date=4 February 2012}}

| rev6 = Robert Christgau

| rev6Score = {{Rating-Christgau|dud}} (bad record){{Cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=sting|title=Robert Christgau: CG: sting|website=Robertchristgau.com|access-date=12 March 2025}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|author=Elysa Gardner |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/mercury-falling-19980202 |title=Mercury Falling | Album Reviews |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2 February 1998 |access-date=1 March 2012}}

}}

Mercury Falling was released on 8 March 1996. It reached number four in Sting's native UK and number five in the US, becoming his fifth straight studio album to make the top 5 in both countries. The album also achieved top ten placements in 16 other countries in addition to the European Albums Chart (where it topped the chart).

"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" was released as the album's first single on 19 February 1996. It became a top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at number 15, but stalled at number 86 in the US. It did, however, reach number 3 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart. The single was most successful in Canada, where it peaked at number 7. "You Still Touch Me", the album's second single, reached number 27 in the UK. In the US, it was more successful than its predecessor, peaking at number 60. The song matched the previous single's chart placement in Canada, giving Sting yet another number 7 hit. A remixed version of "I Was Brought to My Senses", done by Steve Lipson, served at the album's third single. It barely missed the top 30 in the UK and failed to chart in the US. "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" was the album's final single. Toby Keith released a cover of the song as a single from his album Dream Walkin', Sting guested on the track which gave him his only country hit.

{{tracklist

|all_writing = Sting, except "La Belle Dame sans regrets" written by Sting and Dominic Miller.

|headline = Mercury Falling

| title1 = The Hounds of Winter

| note1 =

| length1 = 5:27

| title2 = I Hung My Head

| note2 =

| length2 = 4:40

| title3 = Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot

| note3 =

| length3 = 6:41

| title4 = I Was Brought to My Senses

| note4 =

| length4 = 5:48

| title5 = You Still Touch Me

| note5 =

| length5 = 3:46

| title6 = I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying

| note6 =

| length6 = 3:56

| title7 = All Four Seasons

| note7 =

| length7 = 4:28

| title8 = Twenty Five to Midnight

| length8 = 4:09

| title9 = La Belle Dame sans regrets

| length9 = 5:17

| title10 = Valparaiso

| note10 =

| length10 = 5:27

| title11 = Lithium Sunset

| note11 =

| length11 = 2:38

|total_length = 52:24

}}

Note: "Twenty Five To Midnight" was excluded from the original American and Canadian pressings of the album.

• Sting – vocals, bass, arrangements
• Kenny Kirkland – keyboards
• Gerry Richardson – Hammond organ (3)
• Dominic Miller – guitars, arrangements (8)
• B. J. Cole – pedal steel guitar (6, 11)
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
• Andrew Love – saxophones (2, 3, 5, 7, 8)
• Branford Marsalis – tenor saxophone (3), soprano saxophone (4)
• Wayne Jackson – trumpet (2, 3, 5, 7, 8)
• Kathryn Tickell – fiddle (4), Northumbrian pipes (9)
• Lance Ellington – additional vocals (3, 4)
• Shirley Lewis – additional vocals (3, 4)
• Monica Reed Price – additional vocals (3, 4)
• Tony Walters – additional vocals (3, 4)
• East London Gospel Choir – choir (3, 4)
• Graeme Perkins – vocal session coordinator (3, 4)

• Sting – producer
• Hugh Padgham – producer, engineer, mixing
• Simon Osborne – engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering{{Cite AV media notes |title=Mercury Falling |others=Sting |year=1996 |page=9 |type=booklet|publisher=A&M Records |location=Hollywood}}
• Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine) – mastering location
• Danny Quatrochi – personal technical assistant
• Jeri Heiden – art direction, design
• William Claxton – photography
• Fabrizio Ferri – photography
• Miles Copeland III – management
• Kim Turner – management

{{Awards table}}

|-

| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|1997
{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/01/08/pumpkins-a-smash-with-7-grammy-nominations/|title=Pumpkins A Smash With 7 Grammy Nominations|date=8 January 1997|first=Greg|last=Kot|work=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Tribune Company|access-date=26 April 2011}} || Mercury Falling || Best Pop Vocal Album || {{nom}}

|-

|"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" || Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|| {{nom}}

|-

{{End}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=The Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|certyear=1996|region=Australia|award=Gold|access-date=26 November 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|region=Austria|access-date=29 January 2012|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|region=Canada|access-date=29 January 2012|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|region=Finland|access-date=29 November 2011|salesamount=24,617|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|region=Germany|access-date=1 January 2012|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|region=Italy|nocert=true|salesamount=210,000|salesref={{cite news|url=http://www1.adnkronos.com/Archivio/AdnAgenzia/1997/01/08/Spettacolo/MUSICA-EROS-RAMAZZOTTI-TRIONFA-NELLE-VENDITE-DEL-96-2_122600.php|title=MUSICA: EROS RAMAZZOTTI TRIONFA NELLE VENDITE DEL '96 (2)|publisher=Adnkronos|date=1 August 1997|access-date=17 February 2021|language=it}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=マーキュリー・フォーリング|artist=スティング|type=album|region=Japan|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=1996|certmonth=4|salesamount=193,600|salesref={{cite book |title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 |publisher=Oricon Entertainment |location=Roppongi, Tokyo |year=2006 |isbn=4-87131-077-9 }}|access-date=July 21, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|region=Netherlands|award=Gold|access-date=29 October 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|region=Poland|award=Gold|certyear=2012|access-date=20 April 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=

Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|certyear=1996|region=Spain|award=Gold|certref={{cite book|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/pd758fesp2w7i7f|title=Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados > 1995–1999|publisher=Iberautor Promociones Culturales|isbn=8480486392|year=2005}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|access-date=29 January 2012|region=Switzerland|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|certyear=1997|id=4236-1653-2|access-date=29 January 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1996|region=United States|award=Platinum|access-date=29 January 2012}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|title=Mercury Falling|artist=Sting|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=1997|access-date=20 January 2012}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.stingoop.com/disco/07mercury/mercury.htm Stingoop.com] Mercury Falling Release Details

{{Sting}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Sting (musician) albums

Category:1996 albums

Category:Albums produced by Hugh Padgham

Category:A&M Records albums

Category:Country albums by English artists