‘Mercury’ Rises

Sting’s “Mercury Falling,” which has been described as the Englishman’s most accessible solo album, is a hit with local fans. It debuts at No. 2 on The Times’ Southern California album chart.

TOP 10 ALBUMS *--*

Title, Artist (Nat’l Rank) Last Week 1 Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette (1) 1 2 Mercury Falling, Sting (5) ... 3 Falling Into You, Celine Dion (2) ... 4 Score, Fugees (3) 3 5 All Eyez on Me, 2Pac (4) 2 6 Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt (31) 11 7 Daydream, Mariah Carey (6) 5 8 Waiting to Exhale, soundtrack (7) 6 9 Relish, Joan Osborne (13) 4 10 (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis (9) 7

*--*

TOP 10 SINGLES *--*

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Because You Loved Me, Celine Dion (1) 1 2 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know), R. Kelly (2) 4 3 Nobody Knows, Tony Rich Project (3) 7 4 1 2 3 4 (Sumpin’ New), Coolio (12) 8 5 All the Things (Your Man Won’t Do), Joe (6) 5 6 Sittin’ Up in My Room, Brandy (4) 3 7 Real Love, Beatles (9) 2 8 Not Gon’ Cry, Mary J. Blige (5) 6 9 Doin’ It, LL Cool J (11) 9 10 Feels So Good (Show Me Your Love), Lina Santiago (44) 15

*--*

TOP 10 R&B; ALBUMS *--*

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Score, Fugees (1) 2 2 All Eyez on Me, 2Pac (2) 1 3 Daydream, Mariah Carey (3) 3 4 Waiting to Exhale, soundtrack (4) 4 5 Gangsta’s Paradise, Coolio (5) 5 6 R. Kelly, R. Kelly (6) 8 7 Dogg Food, Tha Dogg Pound (13) 6 8 Brown Sugar, D’Angelo (8) 7 9 Words, Tony Rich Project (9) ... 10 Mr. Smith, LL Cool J (10) ...

*--*

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week ending March 17