Upon its release on Reel People Music/Expansion Records , the mix became an instant "classic" in the soulful house community. It is frequently cited as a nostalgic favorite that defined an era of sophisticated "urban beat" music. The Message
The track began as a soulful R&B ballad by , originally released on her 1995 album Personal Inspirations . However, it found a second, more enduring life in 2009 when the UK-based production duo The Layabouts (Alexei & Leigh) transformed it into a sprawling, 8-minute deep house masterpiece. Free (The Layabouts Vocal Mix)
The remix replaced the original’s mid-tempo R&B production with a sophisticated, driving beat, lush Rhodes chords, and a hypnotic bassline. This arrangement allowed Mills’ powerful vocals—which center on themes of escaping a toxic, "unhealthy" relationship—to soar in a way that resonated with dancefloors from London to Ibiza. Upon its release on Reel People Music/Expansion Records
The story of is a tale of how a 1990s R&B classic was reborn as a timeless anthem for the global deep house scene. The Rebirth of a Classic However, it found a second, more enduring life