The Nu Shooz (lead vocalist Valerie Day, Danny Schauffler, John Smith and Rick Waritz) 1984 LP "Tha's Right" contained the original "I Can't Wait" (J. Smith). Issued as a single it was a big hit in the group's Portland, Oregon hometown but nowhere else. Originally this was a twelve member group that gradually became the husband and wife team of Valerie Day and John Smith with additional musicians.

The 1986 album by Nu Shooz was to be called "The Point Of No Return" but that was changed to the top thirty success "Poolside". This contained the single "I Can't Wait" as it was remixed by Peter Slaghuis to where it topped the Billboard Dance chart, reached number two Soul and peaked at number three on the Top One Hundred.