Diamonds and Chills

After several major hits in the 1970s, Margo Smith transitioned towards a "sexier" marketing persona, according to writer Sandra Brennan. In 1979, she had two major hits, including the top ten song "Still a Woman" which helped signify this transition.{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Sandra |title=Margo Smith: Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/margo-smith-mn0000675718 |website=AllMusic |access-date=30 March 2021}} Smith attempted to carry her new image into 1980 with the recording of a new studio record, Diamonds and Chills.{{cite magazine |title=Billboard's Top Album Picks |magazine=Billboard |date=September 13, 1980 |volume=92 |issue=37 |page=68 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jiQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=margo+smith+diamonds+and+chills+billboard&pg=PT67 |access-date=7 April 2021}} The album was recorded at the Woodland Sound Studios, located in Nashville, Tennessee. The sessions were held in March 1980 and was produced by David Barnes. Diamonds and Chills contained ten tracks. Unlike previous records, the project did not include any songs composed by Smith herself. The album featured a cover of Mary Wells' "My Guy," Brenda Holloway's "Every Little Bit Hurts," Parker McGee's "I Just Can't Say No to You" and Chris Thompson's "If You Remember Me".{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Margo |title=Diamonds and Chills (LP Liner Notes and Album Information) |journal=Warner Bros. Records |date=September 1980 |id= BSK 3464}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev2 = Billboard

| rev2Score = Favorable

}}

Diamonds and Chills was released in September 1980 on Warner Bros. Records. It marked the eighth studio recording of Smith's music career and her sixth for the Warner label. The album was originally distributed as a vinyl LP containing five tracks on either side of the record. The album was also offered as a cassette with an identical track listing.{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Margo |title=Diamonds and Chills (Cassette Liner Notes and Album Information) |journal=Warner Bros. Records |date=September 1980 |id=MP 3464}} Diamonds and Chills received a positive response from Billboard magazine, who named the record among its "top album picks" in September 1980. Reviewers praised the album's balance of country and pop musical styles. They also praised the album as a whole: "Smith shifts from her former traditional country inflections into a lighter sultry updated style that is comfortably engaging." In later years, the record received three out of five stars from AllMusic.

The album also spawned two singles that were released in 1980.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc.|year=2008|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}} The album's cover of "My Guy" was released as the project's first single in June 1980.{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Margo |title="My Guy" / "If You Remember Me" (7" vinyl single sleeve insert) |journal=Warner Bros. Records |date=June 1980 |id=WBS49250}} The song reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart later that year. The album's title track ("You Give Me Diamonds, He Gives Me Chills") was issued as the record's second single in September 1980.{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Margo |title="He Gives Me Diamonds, You Give Me Chills" / "Every Little Bit Hurts" (7" vinyl single sleeve insert) |journal=Warner Bros. Records |date=September 1980 |id=WBS49569}} The song peaked at number 52 on the Billboard country chart.

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{{tracklist

| headline = Side one

| title1 = He Gives Me Diamonds, You Give Me Chills

| writer1 = {{hlist|Don Goodman|Mary Ann Kennedy}}

| length1 = 2:54

| title2 = Every Little Bit Hurts

| writer2 = Ed Cobb

| length2 = 3:00

| title3 = As Far as My Heart Can See

| writer3 = {{hlist|Larry Keith|Johnny Slate}}

| length3 = 2:20

| title4 = Let Me Be Her Tonight

| writer4 = {{hlist|Goodman|Kennedy|Pam Rose}}

| length4 = 2:55

| title5 = Any Way That You Want Me

| writer5 = Chip Taylor

| length5 = 3:11

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Side two

| title1 = My Guy

| writer1 = William Robinson

| length1 = 2:48

| title2 = If You Remember Me

| writer2 = {{hlist|Marvin Hamlisch|Carole Bayer Sager}}

| length2 = 2:57

| title3 = Ain't No Need to Rush the Feeling

| writer3 = Eric Saxon

| length3 = 3:28

| title4 = I Just Can't Say No to You

| writer4 = {{hlist|Steve Gibson|Parker McGee}}

| length4 = 3:02

| title5 = Love Me Goodbye

| writer5 = {{hlist|Goodman|Kennedy|Rose}}

| length5 = 3:30

}}

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Diamonds and Chills.

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Musical personnel

• Lea Jane Berinati – Background vocals
• Steve Brantley – Background vocals
• Tom Brannon – Background vocals
• Jerry Carrigan – Drums
• Mark Casstevens – Acoustic guitar
• Johnny Christopher – Acoustic guitar
• Jackie Cusic – Background vocals
• Bruce Dees – Background vocals
• Shane Keister – Keyboards
• John Komrada – Flugelhorn
• Sheri Kramer – Background vocals
• The Shelly Kurland Strings – String section
• Barry McDonald – Flugelhorn
• Donna Sheridan Levine – Background vocals
• Lisa Silver – Background vocals
• Margo Smith – Lead vocals
• Diane Tidwell – Background vocals
• Paul Uhrig – Bass
• Reggie Young – Electric guitar

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Technical personnel

• David Barnes – Producer
• Bobbe Joy – Makeup
• Danny M. Hilley – Engineer
• Rick McCollister – Mastering
• Patty Michels – Fashion stylist
• Farrell Morris – Percussion
• Tim Ritchie – Art direction, design
• Mitsu Sato of Platoon – Hair stylist
• Hank Williams – Mastering
• Dick Zimmerman – Photography

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{{reflist}}

{{Margo Smith}}

Category:1980 albums

Category:Margo Smith albums

Category:Warner Records albums