Freeez were a dance musicgroup from London, known initially as one of the UK's main jazz-funk bands of the early 1980s. Initiated by John Rocca, Freeez consisted of various musicians, originally with Rocca and others such as Andy Stennet (keyboards), Peter Maas (bass guitar) and Paul Morgan or Everton Mcalla (drums).
The song "I.O.U.", written, produced and mixed by Arthur Baker (known then for his work with Afrika Bambaataa), was also used for the 1980s breakdancemovie, Beat Street. It scored two weeks at number one in the Billboard Dance chart,[3] scoring among songs by such people as Madonna, Michael Jackson and David Bowie, and was number 2 in the UK Singles Chart during the summer of 1983. It was followed by other releases from the album such as "Pop Goes My Love" / "Scratch Goes My Dub", which scored the U.S. Top 5. During 1987 a remix of "I.O.U." scored number 18 on the U.S. dance chart, plus number 23 in the UK Singles Chart.
Freeez reformed during 1984 without Rocca, or any of the other original members, other than Peter Maas. With a new style and almost a new group altogether, Maas worked with Louis Smith who assumed the duties of keyboard player, co-writer and programmer with Billy Crichton as songwriter and guitarist. The new Freeez then recorded an album, Idle Vice (1985) at Studio number 2 at Abbey Road Studios in the same room where the Beatles made their recordings. "That Beats My Patience" was the first single from the album. Smith later to became a session keyboard player and toured with the rock music band The Escape Club who had U.S. number one song "Wild, Wild West" and several other U.S. Top 10 successes. He also recorded as one half of Bass Kruncher with main guitarist John Holliday from The Escape Club.
Rocca and Stennet also recorded under other pseudo names such Pictures and Pink Rhythm during 1985.
Later in 1993/94 Peter Maas and Paul Morgan took the Freeez format again and reformed as the Dazzling Urbanites adding Poly Koutrouzas (Vocals) and Max Rutherford (Guitars) to the lineup. Despite extensive preparation and rehearsals in North London (Dukes Avenue, Muswell Hill) the original success was sadly never achieved.
Late 2011 saw the first ever CD release of their 1980 debut album Southern Freeez. The CD came as a double 'Expanded' two disc set featuring 12 versions,remixes & rare demos as well as newly written inlay booklet featuring notes from John Rocca & Peter Mass. Their second album Gonna' Get You has also been reissued in the same way.
A-E-A-E-I-O-U-U I sometimes cry
A-E-A-E-I-O-U-U I sometimes cry
You tell me that you love me every day
When we're alone I really feel in love
But when you're out with friends I see a change
You treat me bad, I feel like second best
I want your love (I want your love)
Give me your love, girl (give me your love)
That's how I feel, I want to be real
I want your love (I want your love)
Give me your love, girl (give me your love)
I need your touch and I, I owe you so much
A-E-A-E-I-O-U-U I sometimes cry
(Oh) A-E (I really care)A-E-I (I really care) O-U-U
(I really care, care, care) I sometimes lie
Do you realize some things you say
I know you do, it makes me so confused
I'm sure this ain't the way that love should be
Let's get it right, it's much too good to lose
I want your love (I want your love)
Give me your love, girl (give me your love)
That's how I feel, I want to be real
I want your love (I want your love)
Give me your love, girl (give me your love)
I need your touch and I owe you so much
A-E-A-E-I-O-U-U I sometimes lie
(Girl) A-E (I really care)A-E-I (I really care) O-U-U
(I really care, care, care) I sometimes lie
(Girl) A-E (I really care)A-E-I (I really care) O-U-U
(I really care, care, care) I sometimes lie
I need your love, I want your love, give me your love (give me your love)
I need your love, I want your love, give me your love
Girl (girl), I know I owe you so much
But I can't pay you
With just, with just one touch
And girl, I know you care
I'll never love another
To that, to that I'll swear
A-E-A-E (I owe you girl) I-O-U-U, I sometimes lie, yeah
A-E-A-E (I owe you girl) I-O-U-U, (owe you girl) I sometimes cry (oh)
A-E-A-E-I-O-U-U I sometimes lie
"I.O.U." is a song from 1983 by British musical group Freeez, their most successful hit.
The song scored #2 in the UK Singles Chart[1] earlier in 1983 before reaching the top of the BillboardHot Dance Club Playchart in the U.S.,[2] 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 breakdancemovie, Beat Street. The chorus is often erroneously sung by listeners as "A-E, A-E I-O-U and sometimes Y", referring to the vowels of the alphabet. It is actually "A-E, A-E, I-O-U I sometimes cry".
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.
