"He Gives Me Diamonds, You Give Me Chills" Released: September 1980
Diamonds and Chills is a studio album by American country music artist Margo Smith. It was released in September 1980 via Warner Bros. Records and was produced by David Barnes. It was Smith's eighth studio album released in her music career and her last to be released on the Warner Bros. label. The project spawned two singles, which charted on the country singles survey in 1980: "My Guy" and the title track. Diamonds and Chills was reviewed favorably by critics.
Background and content
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.[2] Smith attempted to carry her new image into 1980 with the recording of a new studio record, Diamonds and Chills.[3] 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".[4]
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.[4] The album was also offered as a cassette with an identical track listing.[5]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."[3] In later years, the record received three out of five stars from AllMusic.[1]
The album also spawned two singles that were released in 1980.[6] The album's cover of "My Guy" was released as the project's first single in June 1980.[7] The song reached number 43 on the BillboardHot Country Singles chart later that year.[6] The album's title track ("You Give Me Diamonds, He Gives Me Chills") was issued as the record's second single in September 1980.[8] The song peaked at number 52 on the Billboard country chart.[6]
^ abcdefSmith, Margo (September 1980). "Diamonds and Chills (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". Warner Bros. Records. BSK 3464.
^ abcdSmith, Margo (September 1980). "Diamonds and Chills (Cassette Liner Notes and Album Information)". Warner Bros. Records. MP 3464.
^ abcWhitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN978-0-89820-177-2.
^Smith, Margo (June 1980). ""My Guy" / "If You Remember Me" (7" vinyl single sleeve insert)". Warner Bros. Records. WBS49250.
^Smith, Margo (September 1980). ""He Gives Me Diamonds, You Give Me Chills" / "Every Little Bit Hurts" (7" vinyl single sleeve insert)". Warner Bros. Records. WBS49569.
