I.O.U. (Freeez song)

"I.O.U." is a song by British musical group Freeez, released in 1983. The song was written and produced by Arthur Baker and remixed by Jellybean Benitez and Arthur Baker. The song was an international hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart and topping the US Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80 chart, giving Freeez their only chart-topping single on any Billboard chart. It was the 18th-best-selling single of 1983 in the United Kingdom.

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.

In 1986, a 12-inch 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 reached number 23 on the UK Singles Chart.

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. In 2021 the international DJ/Producer Paolo Pellegrino used the sample and the chorus, and had a new song rewritten together with the singer and songwriter Shibui, also changing the title to Destiny.

1983 releases
7-inch vinyl
 * UK: Beggars Banquet / BEG 96
 * Germany, Netherlands: Virgin / 105 535
 * US: Streetwise / SWRL-1110
 * Australia: Powderworks / POW 0146


 * Japan: Victor / VIPX-1742

12-inch 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-inch vinyl
 * US: Criminal / CRIM 00007

1987 releases
7-inch vinyl
 * UK: City Beat / CBE 709


 * Sweden: City Beat / BB 7105

12-inch vinyl
 * UK: City Beat / CBE 1209
 * France: Virgin / 80291
 * Germany: Virgin / 608 897


 * Sweden: City Beat / BB 8105

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