By the side of the pool
The music shuffler at work came up with “Point of No Return” by Nu Shooz, a rhythmic-and-then-some dance number from 1986 that followed up the Shooz’ humongous single “I Can’t Wait.” (You can hear a snippet, complete with Casey Kasem’s intro, here.) I knew the names of the Shooz — John Smith and Valerie Day — but I didn’t know what had happened to them. (I’d bought their Poolside album, and the follow-up Told U So, but that was the last I’d heard from them.)
So finding the Shooz went onto my task list, and fortunately it wasn’t difficult: they’ve never left Portland. Under the Nu Shooz Orchestra banner, they’ve cut an “unplugged” version of “I Can’t Wait” that veers several degrees toward jazz. (Hear it here.) I have to admit, I had no idea Valerie Day could sing like this; she didn’t get much of a chance to stretch out on those earlier records. This corroborates two of my pet theories about disco: people working in the genre’s sweatshops weren’t necessarily lowest-common-denominator performers, and if you subtract the thump you still have worthy tunes.
Anyway, this is what Day and Smith (they’re still married) have been up to over the years. I’m glad they’re still around.
Jason B. »
16 July 2009 · 11:08 pm
That’s neat! Thanks for the links.
Sarah »
17 July 2009 · 10:11 am
I loved Nu Shooz when I was a kid! I have fond memories of laying out in the backyard, tanning (back when I still did such things), and listening to “I Can’t Wait.” All these years, whenever I would mention this band, people would think I was making it up. No one believed me that there was once a band called Nu Shooz.
Interesting to hear that they’re still together. I can’t wait to check out the jazz version of “I Can’t Wait.”