Following last year's expanded reissue of Company B's debut album, The Stereo Sonic is back with a new expansion: this time, of Nu Shooz's breakthrough album, Poolside.

The 1986 Atlantic Records release of Poolside marked the culmination of years during which the group climbed the showbiz ladder.  The husband-and-wife duo of John Smith (guitarist) and Valerie Day (vocalist/percussionist) were mainstays of a lineup that experienced many permutations, from a soul quartet to a big band comprising, variously, 12, 9, or 7 members.  Nu Shooz's signature song, "I Can't Wait," was self-recorded in Portland, Oregon and initially released on the band's own label.  Though the song (issued on an EP as well as on their independent album That's Right) gained popularity in the region, major success eluded Nu Shooz.   Yet the song traveled all the way to the Netherlands, where Dutch DJ Peter Slaghuis remixed it.  Slaghuis' remix, initially unbeknownst to the band, was issued on the country's Injection Records label and soon made its way back to the U.S. where it achieved club popularity.  It caught the ear of the brass at Atlantic Records, who plucked Nu Shooz from Oregon and signed them to a major-label contract in January 1986.

With the promotional muscle of Atlantic behind it, the remix of "I Can't Wait" climbed to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Dance chart, No. 3 on the Hot 100, and No. 2 on the R&B survey; internationally, it reached No. 1 in Canada, No. 2 in Germany, No. 3 in New Zealand, No. 4 in Switzerland, and No. 2 in the U.K. as well as No. 9 in the Netherlands.  The track would be included on Nu Shooz's Atlantic debut, Poolside.  Assembled from recording sessions in New York, Los Angeles, and Portland, the album was produced by John Smith and Rick Waritz, with Jeff Lorber (who also played keyboards and provided some rhythm arrangements on the LP), Marlon McClain, and Shep Pettibone all credited as associate producers.  (Pettibone's mixes of "Lost Your Number," "Don't Let Me Be the One," and "Point of No Return" were all included on the original album.)  Poolside was filled with the kind of electronic, uptempo, energetic, and altogether irresistible dancers that fans of "I Can't Wait" would have expected, and it yielded two further hit singles with "Point of No Return" (another U.S. Dance chart-topper which also went to the top 30 of the Hot 100) and "Don't Let Me Be the One" (Dance No. 39).  The album was certified Gold in October 1986 and Nu Shooz was nominated for Best New Artist at the 1987 Grammy Awards.

Despite its success, Poolside has largely been absent from CD since the 1980s; The Stereo Sonic's reissue marks its first expansion.  The label has added eight bonus tracks for a packed CD running almost 80 minutes in length; bonus cuts include the full-length Dutch mix of "I Can't Wait" as well as the Dutch Vocal Mix and Vocal American Mix; "Point of No Return" is heard in its Long Vocal Mix, Vocal Special Mix, and Dub Mix.  An extended "Don't Let Me Be the One" and seven-inch mix of B-side "Make Your Mind Up" round out the complement of bonus tracks.

The new reissue is housed in a jewel case with the original album cover artwork.  The 12-page full-color booklet offers new liner notes and various photos and memorabilia images, though discography and songwriting (as well as remastering) credits are absent.  This generously expanded reissue is available now through Amazon Marketplace.  You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Nu Shooz, Poolside: Expanded Edition (Atlantic LP 7 81647-2, 1986 - reissued The Stereo Sonic, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Lost Your Number
2. I Can't Wait
3. Don't Let Me Be the One
4. Goin' Thru the Motions
5. You Put Me in a Trance
6. Point of No Return
7. Secret Message
8. Don't You Be Afraid
9. I Can't Wait (Long Dutch Mix) (Atlantic 12-inch single 0-86828, 1986)
10. Point of No Return (Long Vocal Mix) (Atlantic 12-inch single 0-86802, 1986)
11. Don't Let Me Be the One (Vocal Extended) (Atlantic 12-inch single 0-86764, 1986)
12. Make Your Mind Up (7" Mix) (Atlantic single 7-89446, 1986)
13. I Can't Wait (Vocal American Mix) (Atlantic 12-inch single 0-86828, 1986)
14. I Can't Wait (Dutch Vocal Mix) (Atlantic 12-inch single 0-86828, 1986)
15. Point of No Return (Vocal Special Mix) (Atlantic 12-inch single 0-86802, 1986)
16. Point of No Return (Dub) (Atlantic 12-inch single 0-86802, 1986)