Just Be Free

Infobox Album | Name = Just Be Free
Type = demo
Artist = Christina Aguilera


Released = August 21 2001 (U.S.)
November 26 2001 (UK)
Recorded = Circa. 1996
Genre = Pop
Length = 45:99
Label = Warlock
Producer = Bobby Allecca, Michael Brown, Tim Camponeschi
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:mbsyxdjb2ola~T1 link]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (D) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,255018,00.html link]
Last album = 'My Kind of Christmas"
(2000)
This album = "Just Be Free"
(2001)
Next album = "Stripped"
(2002)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = demo

| size = 90px
Lower caption = iTunes Store cover

"Just Be Free" is an unofficial album of American pop/R&B singer Christina Aguilera's early demo recordings, which were submitted when she was fourteen and fifteen years old. These tracks were never intended to be released to the public, but were instead used as a tool to enter the music industry.

In 2000, by which time she was a household name, a single emerged into record stores called "Just Be Free", one of the demos Aguilera recorded. When RCA Records discovered the single, they officially advised fans not to purchase it, since it was unauthorized, and had German authorities pull the single off shelves as well. Months later, indie label Warlock Records was set to release "Just Be Free", an album which contains the demo tracks. Aguilera filed a breach of contract and unfair-competition suit against Warlock and former producers Michael Brown and Robert Alleca in an effort to block the release, arguing that the album didn't reflect her music direction because of her age when she recorded it, and how they used Aguilera's name, likeness and image without permission to advertise a product.Fact|date=February 2007

In the end, the two parties came to a settlement to release the album to the public. She lent out her name, likeness and image for an unspecified amount of damages. Many of the details of the lawsuit remain confidential. When the album was released on August 21 2001, it had a photograph of Aguilera when she was fifteen years old, and the following statement from her written in its liner notes:

cquote|

Dear Friends:

Just Be Free was recorded when I was 14 and 15 years old. At that young age, I made the recordings as a possible stepping stone to a career in music, which is my ultimate passion. They were made just so that I could get my foot in the door of the music business.

I did not intend that the recordings would be widely released, especially after I signed with a major record label. I have not updated or finished the versions recorded in my childhood, and they are being released "as is," although I tried to prevent the release for several years.

The recordings do not in any way reflect my current musical taste and where I am as an artist. The growth and vocal development I experienced as I matured into young adulthood is not reflected in the recordings. The album of new recordings that I intend to release this fall will be the album that truly reflects my artistry, my vision, and my passion. The Just Be Free recordings will hopefully be a footnote in a musical career that I dream will last for many years to come.

Track listing

#"Just Be Free" (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 3:43
#"By Your Side" (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 4:07
#"Move It" (Dance Mix) (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 3:55
#"Our Day Will Come" (Mort Garson; Bob Hilliard) – 4:05
#"Believe Me" (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 4:17
#"Make Me Happy" (LaForest Cope; Michael Brown) – 3:54
#"Dream a Dream" (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 4:51
#"Move It" (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 3:44
#"The Way You Talk to Me" (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 3:37
#"Running out of Time" (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 4:05
#"Believe Me" (Dance Remix) (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 4:36
#"Just Be Free" (Spanish) (Bob Allecca; Michael Brown; Christina Aguilera) – 3:41

Personnel

*Christina Aguilera - vocals, background vocals
*Bob Alecca - Executive Producer
*Michael Brown -Executive Producer
*Bryan N. Calhoun - A&R Supervision
*Amy Knong - Art Direction & Design
*Eliud "Liu" Ortiz - Mixing Engineer
*Greg Smith - Assistant Mix Engineer
*Chris Gehringer - Mastering Engineer

Additional Credits

*"Just Be Free" - Co-produced & Remixed by Seth Lawrence Berman and Sean Tyas
*"By Your Side" - Co-produced & Remixed by The Platinum Brothers
*"Move It" - Co-produced & Remixed by William "Prez" Bush
*"Our Day Will Come" - Co-produced & Remixed by Christopher Star

Charts

References