If you grew up in the late 80s or early 90s, you probably remember the high-top fades, the oversized silk shirts, and that specific brand of New Jack Swing that just felt like summer. But among all the dance tracks, one song managed to freeze time. It’s All I Do Is Think of You by Troop. Seriously, even now, if those first few synth notes hit at a wedding or a backyard BBQ, the entire room shifts.
It’s nostalgic. It’s sweet. Honestly, it’s a bit heartbreaking too.
There’s a weird thing that happens with cover songs. Usually, they’re just pale imitations of the original, right? Like someone trying to trace a masterpiece and missing all the soul. But Troop didn’t just cover a Jackson 5 deep cut; they basically repossessed it for a new generation. They took a 1975 B-side written by Michael Lovesmith and Brian Holland and turned it into a 1990 R&B blueprint.
The Magic Behind the 1990 Remix
Most people don't realize that Troop’s version of All I Do Is Think of You was actually the second single from their Attitude album. Think about the pressure. They were following up "Spread My Wings," which was already a monster hit. The group—comprised of Steve Russell, Allen McNeil, John Harreld, Rodney Benford, and Reggie Warren—wasn't just another boy band. These guys could actually sang. No, I mean really sang.
Steve Russell, who later became a massive producer and songwriter for folks like Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks, was the secret weapon here. His lead vocal on this track is a masterclass in restraint. He’s not over-singing. He’s just... pining.
Chuckii Booker produced the track. If you know R&B history, that name should ring a bell. Booker was the architect for a lot of that "New Jack Swing Lite" sound—smoother than Riley, but funkier than standard pop. He kept the arrangement sparse enough that the five-part harmonies could breathe. That’s why the song feels so heavy. It’s the voices.
Why This Version Eclipsed the Jackson 5
Look, saying anyone did it better than Michael Jackson is dangerous territory. The Jackson 5 original is a soulful, innocent plea. It’s great. But by 1990, the musical landscape had changed. We wanted more bass. We wanted those lush, stacked harmonies that groups like New Edition and Jodeci were perfecting.
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Troop delivered exactly that.
They slowed the tempo just a hair. They added that "Ooh-ooh-ooh" refrain that sticks in your brain like glue. While the Jackson 5 version feels like a kid with a crush, Troop’s version feels like a teenager who can't eat or sleep because they’re so caught up. It’s a subtle shift in maturity that made it the definitive "slow dance" song at every middle school gym dance for five years straight.
The charts didn't lie, either. It hit number one on the Billboard R&B singles chart and stayed there. It wasn't just a "moment." It was a cultural shift. It proved that the "New Jack" era wasn't just about loud drums and dancing; it had a sensitive side that could dominate the airwaves.
The Technical Brilliance of Those Harmonies
Let's talk about the bridge. You know the one.
"Every day, every night..."
That section is actually incredibly difficult to pull off live. Most modern artists would rely on heavy backing tracks or pitch correction to get that blend, but Troop was part of that era where you had to prove it in the booth. The layering of the tenors against the baritone foundation created this "wall of sound" effect. It’s why the song feels so warm.
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I’ve talked to vocal coaches who use this specific track to teach "blending." It’s not about who sings the loudest; it’s about how the five voices vibrate at the same frequency. When they hit that final "Think of you..." and the music drops out for a second? That’s pure gold. It’s the kind of production choice you don't see as often in the era of hyper-compressed digital tracks.
The Music Video and the "Troop" Aesthetic
You can't talk about All I Do Is Think of You by Troop without mentioning the video. It was peak 1990. We’re talking about the desert. We’re talking about the coordinated outfits. We’re talking about the choreography that was just smooth enough to look cool but simple enough that you and your friends could try to mimic it in your living room.
There was an earnestness to it. No one was trying to be a "thug" or a "rockstar." They were just guys in love, singing to a camera in the middle of nowhere. It captured a specific innocence in R&B that started to fade away as the 90s progressed and the "Bad Boy" era took over.
The Lasting Legacy and Sample Culture
Music stays alive through sampling. That’s just the rule.
Artists like Drake, J. Cole, and even newer R&B singers keep referencing this specific era because it feels "expensive" yet raw. While the Jackson 5 original gets sampled too, producers often look to the Troop version for that specific 90s texture. It has a "roundness" to the sound that works perfectly in lo-fi hip hop beats or trap-soul transitions.
Interestingly, the song has survived several "revivals." Every few years, a video of a college A Cappella group or a TikTok creator covering this song goes viral. Why? Because the melody is timeless. It’s a "perfect" song structure. Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus, Outro. It doesn't try to be clever. It just tries to be honest.
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Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think Troop wrote the song. They didn't. As mentioned, it's a cover. Others think it was their only hit. Also wrong. "Mamacita" and "Spread My Wings" were massive. But All I Do Is Think of You became their signature because it tapped into a universal emotion. Everyone has had that one person who lives rent-free in their head.
There's also this weird rumor that the group broke up right after this song. Not true. They stayed together through the mid-90s and have done various reunion tours since. Reggie Warren unfortunately passed away in 2021, which cast a bit of a somber shadow over the song's legacy, but his contribution to those harmonies is immortalized.
How to Appreciate the Track Today
If you want to really "hear" the song again, stop listening to it on tinny phone speakers.
- Find a high-quality FLAC or vinyl rip. The low-end frequencies in Chuckii Booker’s production are actually pretty sophisticated for 1990.
- Listen for the "ad-libs" in the final three minutes. Steve Russell starts to go off script, and his vocal runs are some of the cleanest of that decade.
- Compare it to the 1975 version. Notice how Troop filled in the "gaps" of the original with vocal textures. It’s a lesson in how to evolve a song without breaking it.
The reality is, All I Do Is Think of You by Troop isn't just a song; it's a timestamp. It represents a bridge between the Motown era and the modern R&B era. It’s the sound of five guys from Pasadena, California, proving that soul music doesn't have an expiration date.
Whether you’re a 90s baby or a Gen Z listener looking for "real" singing, this track is mandatory listening. It’s simple, it’s effective, and honestly, it’s just a vibe that hasn't been replicated since.
Practical Next Steps for R&B Fans:
- Deep Dive into Chuckii Booker: If you love the sound of this track, listen to Chuckii Booker’s solo album Niice 'N Wild. He brought that same "Troop" energy to his own work.
- Study the Bridge: For aspiring vocalists, try to isolate the middle harmony part of the bridge. It’s the hardest part to sing but the most rewarding for ear training.
- Playlist Integration: Add this to a transition between New Edition’s "Can You Stand The Rain" and Jodeci’s "Stay." It’s the perfect connective tissue for a 90s R&B set.