Shades of Gray is the second studio release, and first EP, by Christian alternative rock band the Choir (known as "Youth Choir" at this point), released in 1986. All five songs were later included as bonus tracks on the CD release for Chase the Kangaroo. Background Youth Choir was dissatisfied with the results of Voices in Shadows, and during the mixing phase, the band felt that their sound needed something more. Lead singer and guitarist Derri Daugherty was a fan of Romeo Void, which featured a saxophone player who used all sorts of musical effects, and as timing would have it, one of the band's roadies spotted a flyer on Calvary Chapel's bulletin board where a sax player was looking to join a band. That turned out to be Dan Michaels, who joined Youth Choir shortly after auditioning. In addition to the saxophone, Michaels also played the Lyricon, a mouth-controlled electronic wind instrument that provided a moody, ethereal element that would soon be a key component of the Choir's sound. After Voices in Shadows was released in 1985, Youth Choir toured extensively outside of Southern California and even overseas, as the band felt they did not fit the mold of other Calvary Chapel bands that "played gigs in high school cafeterias as a witnessing tool", according to Daugherty. A number of changes took place during this period: Broken Records folded in late 1985; in 1986, local promoter and friend Brian Martin became the band's manager after seeing Youth Choir open for Daniel Amos, and Tim Chandler rejoined the band as bass guitarist. On the strength of the re-recorded "A Million Years", Youth Choir signed with Shadow Records, an imprint of Refuge Records, and Martin was able to secure Youth Choir the slot as the primary opening band for Steve Taylor on his tour for On the Fritz. Recording history Because the high-profile tour with Steve Taylor was coming up fast, Youth Choir rushed into the studio to record new material. The idea was to produce an EP in time for the tour, then follow up with a full-length album afterwards--unfortunately, delays on the part of Shadow Records kept the EP from being released until after the tour was over. Shades of Gray was recorded at Pakaderm Studios, run by John and Dino Elefante, who by this time were producing Petra's Back to the Street with new lead singer John Schlitt