I.O.U. (Freeez song)

Not to be confused with the 1983 song by Ebn Ozn named "AEIOU Sometimes Y".

"I.O.U."
Single by Freeez
from the album Gonna Get You
B-side	"I Dub U" "We Got the Jazz"
Released	17 June 1983
Studio	Unique (New York City)
Genre	Electro-funk [1]
Length	7:50 (12-inch version) 3:49 (7-inch version)
Label	Beggars Banquet
Songwriter(s)	Arthur Baker
Producer(s)	Arthur Baker
Freeez singles chronology
"One to One" (1982) "I.O.U." (1983) "Pop Goes My Love/Scratch Goes My Dub" (1983)
Freeez singles chronology
"Train of Thoughts" (1985) "I.O.U." (remix) (1987) "Southern Freeez" (remix) (1987)

"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, making the top ten in many European charts and topping the US Billboard Dance/Disco chart. It was the 20th-best-selling single of 1983 in the United Kingdom. ^[2]

The accompanying video featured children with skateboards and BMX bicycles recreating New York hip-hop culture.

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 & 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 off his debut album Bin Reaper. In 2021, DJ/producer Paolo Pellegrino sampled "I.O.U." in a song rewritten together with singer Shibui, titled "Destiny".^{[ citation needed ]}

Track listings

1983 releases

7-inch vinyl

• UK: Beggars Banquet / BEG 96
• Germany, Netherlands: Virgin / 105 535
• US: Streetwise / SWRL-1110
• Australia: Powderworks / POW 0146

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U."	3:48

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Dub U"	4:38

• Japan: Victor / VIPX-1742

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U."

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Pop Goes My Love"

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

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Megamix)	8:43

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Dub U"	7:37
2.	"We Got the Jazz"	4:04

• UK: Beggars Banquet / BEG 96TA

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Megamix)	8:43

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Accapella Mix)	4:03
2.	"We Got the Jazz"	4:04

• US: Streetwise / SWRL 2210 (some with second track on side two)

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U."	7:50

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I. Dub. U."	7:49
2.	"Acapella U." (not on all releases)	2:50

1986 releases

12-inch vinyl

• US: Criminal / CRIM 00007

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Club, Vocal Mix)	8:00
2.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Drumapella)	4:10

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Shakedown Gogo, Vocal Mix)	6:37
2.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Club, Dub Mix)	6:50

1987 releases

7-inch vinyl

• UK: City Beat / CBE 709

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Club Vocal Edit)	3:55

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Shakedown Vocal Edit)	3:55

• Sweden: City Beat / BB 7105

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Shakedown)	3:55

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Club)	4:00

12-inch vinyl

• UK: City Beat / CBE 1209
• France: Virgin / 80291
• Germany: Virgin / 608 897

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Club Dub Mix)	6:32
2.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Club Vocal Mix)	6:02

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Shakedown Vocal Mix)	6:37
2.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Shakedown Instrumental Mix)	5:18

• Sweden: City Beat / BB 8105

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Shakedown Vocal Mix)	6:40
2.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Shakedown Instrumental Mix)	5:25

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Club Vocal Mix)	6:10
2.	"I.O.U." (Ultimate Club Dub Mix)	6:35

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

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1983) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) [3] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [4] 3 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [5] 38 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [6] 13 France (IFOP) [7] 4 Iceland ( Dagblaðið Vísir ) [8] 1 Ireland (IRMA) [9] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [10] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [11] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [12] 4 South Africa (Springbok Radio) [13] 3 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [14] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [15] 5 UK Singles (OCC) [16] 2 US Dance/Disco Top 80 ( Billboard ) [17] 1 US Hot Black Singles ( Billboard ) [18] 13 West Germany (GfK) [19] 8 Chart (1987) Peak position Ireland (IRMA) [9] 26 UK Singles (OCC) [16] 23 US 12-inch Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [20] 37 US Dance/Disco Club Play ( Billboard ) [21] 18

Year-end charts Chart (1983) Position Belgium (Ultratop) [22] 29 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [23] 30 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [24] 40 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [25] 27 UK Singles (OCC) [26] 18 West Germany (GfK) [27] 54

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [28]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Evans, Richard (6 August 2024). "1983.3". Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983. Omnibus Press. p. 434. ISBN   978-1-915841-45-2.
2. "Official Top 40 Best Selling Singles of 1983". UK Official Charts.com. The Official UK Charts Company. 19 March 2021.
3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
4. "Freeez – I.O.U." (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4367." RPM . Library and Archives Canada.
6. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   951-31-2503-3.
7. "InfoDisc : Les Tubes de chaque artiste commençant par F". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
8. "Vísir - 175. Tölublað (05.08.1983) - Tímarit.is". timarit.is. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I.O.U.". Irish Singles Chart.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Freeez" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
11. "Freeez – I.O.U." (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
12. "Freeez – I.O.U.". Top 40 Singles.
13. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989" . Retrieved 29 September 2020.
14. "Freeez – I.O.U.". Singles Top 100.
15. "Freeez – I.O.U.". Swiss Singles Chart.
16. "Freeez: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
17. "Dance Club Songs". Billboard . 16 July 1983. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
18. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" . Billboard. 19 September 1983. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Freeez – I.O.U." (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
20. "Dance Singles Sales" . Billboard. 21 March 1987. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
21. "Dance Club Songs" . Billboard. 4 April 1987. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
22. "Jaaroverzichten 1983" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved 24 November 2023.
23. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 24 November 2023.
24. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1983" (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved 24 November 2023.
25. "End of Year Charts 1983". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
26. "Top 100 Singles". Music Week . 7 January 1984. p. 6.
27. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1983" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 24 November 2023.
28. "British single certifications – Freez – I.O.U." British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 24 November 2023.