I.O.U. (song)

I.O.U. is a song from 1983, written by Arthur Baker and produced and performed by the British group Freeez. Mixed, it was with the support of Jellybean. The song was the only major hit the group therefore is considered as a one- hit wonder. It appeared on the same album.

Background

After Baker had produced the Electro Funk album for Planet Rock Afrika Bambaataa, he left the label Tommy Boy to start his own label in 1982, Streetwise Records, with Maurice Starr. In the course of work on the soundtrack to the film Beat Street, he composed IOU in the taxi on the way to recording sessions with the British band Freeez. The song was recorded in 1982 in the New York Unique Studios. The rhythm was created on Roland TR- 808 and Fairlight CMI on numerous programmed tracks gave the song the melody. The single and the album of the same name were not published under the label Beggars Banquet, in which Freeez were under contract, but at Streetwise. Cooperation with Freeez the first British band made other British bands like New Order or the Pet Shop Boys attention to Baker, for whom he remixed or produced alongside American bands like New Edition in the sequence.

Content of the song

IOU is an abbreviation I owe you ( I owe you ), which is also used on promissory notes. The woman -loving man, the woman feels obliged and summons them to stand up to him and to love him. He confesses his love for her and want her to love him again. He has doubts about their love when they are together with other people and want them to confess to him and speaks openly with him about their love. The occurring in the song chorus a, e, i, o, u stands for the five vowels in the English language.

Music style

Stylistically, the song can be assigned to the Electro Boogie. It has a rate of 119 bpm. The floating rising synthesizer sounds at the beginning of the song are by Michael Long in his book Beautiful monsters: imagining the classic in musical called media as an example of rising sound sequences in popular music.

Publication and chart success

I.O.U. was published on June 17, 1983 worldwide. The song reached including New Zealand (4th place ), Netherlands (2nd place) and Sweden ( 12th ) Top -15 rankings. The song was number 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1983 before it reached the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play charts in the United States., It was the only tip placement of a single group in any chart listing in the United States. The song was the 20th best-selling single of 1983 in the UK. " I.O.U. " was also used in the soundtrack for the movie breakdance, Beat Street 1984.

Music Video

The music video from 1983 shows the bassist of the band, Peter Maas, and their singer, John Rocca, playing and singing. Between short scenes of teenagers on BMX bikes and the music dancing breakdancers are shown.

Reception

Julian Jochmaring of the taz rated the song as " wonderfully naive, euphoric " and the best example of transatlantic cooperation in the pop music of the 1980s.

Track lists

Publications from 1983

  • United Kingdom: Beggars Banquet / BEG 96
  • Germany, Holland: Virgin / 105 535
  • United States: Streetwise / SWRL -1110
  • Australia: Powder Works / POW 0146 A- side: I.O.U., 3:48
  • B-side: I Dub U, 4:38
  • Japan: Victor / VIPX - 1742 A-side: I.O.U.
  • B-side: Pop Goes My Love
  • UK: Beggars Banquet / BEG 96 (T)
  • Germany, France: Virgin / 600 902
  • Australia: Powder Works / POWT 0146
  • Spain: Beggars Banquet / F 600902
  • Canada: Vertigo / SovX 2327 A-side: I.O.U. ( Megamix ) 8:43 minutes
  • B-side: 1 I Dub U, 7:37 minutes, 2 We Got the Jazz, 4:04 minutes
  • United Kingdom: Beggars Banquet / BEG 96TA A-side: I.O.U. ( Megamix ) 8:43 minutes
  • B-side: 1 I.O.U. (A cappella Mix) 4:03 minutes 2 We Got the Jazz, 4:04 minutes
  • U.S.: Streetwise / SWRL 2210 ( some with a second track on the B side) A page I.O.U., 7:50 minutes
  • B-side, 1 I. Dub. U., 7:49 minutes, 2 U. Acapella 2:50

Publication in 1986

  • U.S.: Criminal / CRIM 00007 A-side: 1 I.O.U. (Ultimate Club Vocal Mix ) 8:00 minutes 2 IOU (Ultimate Drumapella ), 4:10 minutes
  • B-side: 1 I.O.U. (Ultimate Shakedown Gogo Vocal Mix ), 6:37 minutes, 2 IOU (Ultimate Club Dub Mix ) 6:50 minutes

Publications 1987

  • United Kingdom: City Beat / CBE 709 A side I.O.U. (Club Vocal Edit ) 3:55 minutes
  • B-side I.O.U. ( Shakedown Vocal Edit ) 3:55 minutes
  • Sweden: City Beat / BB 7105 A side I.O.U. ( Shakedown ), 3:55 minutes
  • B-side I.O.U. (Club ) 4:00 minutes
  • United Kingdom: City Beat / CBE 1209
  • France: Virgin / 80291
  • Germany: Virgin / 608 897 A-side first I.O.U. (Ultimate Club Dub Mix), 6:32 minutes; 2 I.O.U. (Ultimate Club Vocal Mix ) 6:02 minutes
  • B-side first I.O.U. (Ultimate Shakedown Vocal Mix ), 6:37 minutes; 2 I.O.U. (Ultimate Shakedown Instrumental Mix ) 5:18 minutes
  • Sweden: City Beat / BB 8105 A page 1 I.O.U. (Ultimate Shakedown Vocal Mix ) 6:40 2 minutes IOU (Ultimate Shakedown Instrumental Mix ) 5:25 minutes
  • B- side I.O.U. (Ultimate Club Vocal Mix ), 6:10 minutes, 2 IOU (Ultimate Club Dub Mix ) 6:35 minutes

Cover versions

The song was sampled more than once, for example in 1990 in the song of WestBam The Roof Is on Fire and in 1991 by Arthur Baker. Cutfather and Joe use a sample for their remix of Brandy's single " Full Moon" from 2002 as well as Cheryl Cole for the song "Let's Get Down" from the album Messy Little Raindrops of 2010. A cover version of Phonkillaz of Cologne from 2002 the theme tune of the 80 Show on RTL Television.

Arthur Baker (musician) One-Hit-Wonder Roland TR-808 Beggars Banquet Records Tempo#Beats per minute
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