Diamonds and Rain

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Diamonds and Rain is the third studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1986. It is the first release under the band's new moniker after dropping "Youth" from their name.

The original title of the album was Love and Fear, but the band was encouraged to find a more poetic way of expressing those themes—hence Diamonds and Rain.

The black-and-white photograph on the rear of the album was the band's first choice for the front cover. They were not particularly pleased with the final artwork, especially the color-tinted photographs, and were thrilled when the album went out of print.

Recording history

Charlie Peacock was the band's first choice as producer, and although many songs benefit from his perfectionist work ethic, some critics at the time pointed out that Peacock's musical style overwhelmed the record, especially with songs like "Kingston Road," which would have been more appropriate for one of his solo releases. To that end, the sound of the album edges closer to pop than anything The Choir ever recorded. However, Steve Hindalong's lyrics are far more complex than what was typical for Christian radio at the time, given the dark imagery in "Black Cloud" and "(You Do That) Triangle," which addresses alcoholism.

Myrrh Records promoted this album heavily with ads that loudly proclaimed, "The Youth Choir has grown up!" As a result, "Fear Only You" generated another hit single for the band on Christian radio, although "Render Love" is arguably the band's most enduring composition from this album.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Steve Hindalong. All music composed by Derri Daugherty, unless otherwise noted.

1. "Fear Only You" (Music by Daugherty, Tim Chandler) – 3:53
2. "Render Love" (Music by Charlie Peacock) – 4:46
3. "All That Is You" (Music by Daugherty, Chandler) – 3:27
4. "Black Cloud" (Music by Hindalong, Peacock) – 3:41
5. "I Painted Mercy" (Music by Daugherty, Peacock) – 4:16
6. "Kingston Road" (Lyrics and music by Peacock) – 3:40
7. "Listen To Her Eyes" – 3:22
8. "(You Do That) Triangle" – 3:18
9. "Love Falls Down" – 3:14
10. "When The Morning Comes" – 4:27

Personnel

The Choir

• Derri Daugherty - lead vocals, guitars
• Steve Hindalong - drums, percussion
• Tim Chandler - bass guitar
• Dan Michaels - woodwinds

Additional musicians

• Charlie Peacock - keyboards, background vocals
• Bill Batstone - acoustic guitars, background vocals
• Jerry Chamberlain - background vocals

Production

• Producer - Charlie Peacock
• Engineer - Mike Mierau
• Assistant Engineer - Paul Abajian
• Mixer - Martin Heyes at Surrey Sound, Leatherhead, England
• Mastering - Bernie Grundman
• Art Direction - Roland Young
• Photography - Nancy French
• Management - Brian Martin