Sting - Mercury Falling

Falling somewhere between the pop sensibilities of Ten Summoner's Tales and the searching ambition of The Soul Cages, Mercury Falling is one of Sting's tighter records, even if it fails to compel as much as his previous solo albums. Though he doesn't flaunt his jazz aspirations as he did in the mid-'80s, Mercury Falling feels more serious than The Dream of the Blue Turtles, primarily because of its reserved, high-class production and execution. Building from surprisingly simple, memorable melodies, Sting creates multi-layered, vaguely soul-influenced arrangements that carry all of the hallmarks of someone who has studied music, not lived it. Of course, there are many pleasures in the record -- for all of his pretensions, Sting remains an engaging melodicist, as well as a clever lyricist. There just happens to be a distinct lack of energy, stemming from the suffocating layers of synthesizers. Mercury Falling is a record of modest pleasures; it's just not an infectious, compulsive listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andrew Love Saxophone B.J. Cole Pedal Steel Branford Marsalis Saxophone Dominic Miller Guitar East London Gospel Choir Vocals Gerry Richardson Organ (Hammond) Hugh Padgham Engineer, Producer Kathryn Tickell Northumbrian Smallpipes, Vocals (Background) Kenny Kirkland Keyboards Lance Ellington Vocals Shirley Lewis Vocals Simon Osborne Engineer Sting Vocals, Guitar (Bass), Producer Tony Walters Vocals Vinnie Colaiuta Drums Wayne Jackson Trumpet