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I.O.U. (Freeez song)
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Wikipedia article
"'I.O.U.'" is a song from 1983 by British musical group Freeez, their most successful hit. The song was written and produced by Arthur Baker and remixed by Jellybean Benitez and Arthur Baker.
The song was an international hit. The record scored #2 in the UK Singles Chart earlier in 1983 before reaching the top of the 'Billboard' Hot Dance Club Play chart in the U.S., giving them their only chart-topping single on any chart in America. It then became the 20th best-selling single of 1983 in the United Kingdom. "I.O.U." was used for the 1984 breakdance movie, 'Beat Street'.
In the UK, where clubbing culture had become accustomed to sophisticated jazz-funk music, I.O.U. was seen as "dumbing down" for commercial success, cashing in on the fashionable 'electro' music scene. The accompanying video featured children with skateboards and BMX bicycles recreating New York hip-hop culture for a young audience unaware of the band's previous music.
During 1986 a 12" single was released in the US by the Criminal Records company, with new remixes. Some of these remixes were given a re-release during 1987 in the UK for the Citybeat label as "I.O.U. (The Ultimate Mixes '87)", however, it only scored #23 in the UK Singles Chart this time.
Samples
The song has been sampled multiple times. Cutfather and Joe used a sample for their remix of Brandy's 2002 single "Full Moon"; Cheryl Cole for the song "Let's Get Down" from her 2010 album 'Messy Little Raindrops' as does Wawa for the remix of StoneBridge's 2007 single 'S.O.S'. Jamie xx uses a vocal sample for the song "Girl", which closes his debut solo album 'In Colour'. In 2019, Detroit rapper Babytron of ShittyBoyz used this sample for the song "Jesus Shuttlesworth", the third track of his debut album Bin Reaper.
Track listings
1983 releases
;7" vinyl* UK: Beggars Banquet / BEG 96
* Germany, Netherlands: Virgin / 105 535
* US: Streetwise / SWRL-1110
* Australia: Powderworks / POW 0146
* Japan: Victor / VIPX-1742
;12" vinyl
* UK: Beggars Banquet / BEG 96(T)
* Germany, France: Virgin / 600 902
* Australia: Powderworks / POWT 0146
* Spain: Beggars Banquet / F-600902
* Canada: Vertigo / SOVX 2327
* UK: Beggars Banquet / BEG 96TA
* US: Streetwise / SWRL 2210 (some with second track on side two)
1986 releases
; 12" vinyl* US: Criminal / CRIM 00007
1987 releases
; 7" vinyl* UK: City Beat / CBE 709
* Sweden: City Beat / BB 7105
; 12" vinyl
* UK: City Beat / CBE 1209
* France: Virgin / 80291
* Germany: Virgin / 608 897
* Sweden: City Beat / BB 8105
Chart performance
Personnel
* John Rocca vocals, hand percussion, bongos, congas
* Peter Maas bass guitar, vocals
* Everton McCalla drums, vocals
* Tina B vocals
* Andy Stennett piano
* Fred Zarr piano
* Cosa bongos, congas
* Arthur Baker music and lyrics, production, mix, remix
* John "Jellybean" Benitez mix
* John Robie mix, remix
;additional personnel for 1986/87 versions
* Richard Scher co-production
* Graeme Durham editor
* Tim Palmer editor
* Arthur Baker remix
* Jay Burnett remix
* John Rocca remix
* Latin Rascals remix
* Raul Soto remix
References
Category:1983 singles
Category:1987 singles
Category:Freeez songs
Category:Songs written by Arthur Baker (musician)
Category:Song recordings produced by Arthur Baker (musician)
Category:Beggars Banquet Records singles
Category:1983 songs
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