Free Me (album)

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Free Me is the second studio album by English singer Emma Bunton (credited mononymously as Emma), released on 9 February 2004 by 19 Recordings.[1] The album peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart and spawned three top-10 singles: "Free Me", "Maybe" and "I'll Be There". With this album, Bunton became the only former Spice Girl to have sold more copies of her second album than her first.

Background

In 2001, Bunton released her solo debut album A Girl Like Me through Virgin Records. It spent over 12 weeks inside the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number four and earning a gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It also produced her only solo chart-topper "What Took You So Long?" and the top-five single "Take My Breath Away". Bunton explained that she left Virgin Records due to a lack of support from the label, citing a desire to work with a label "where I know people are going to be right behind me and work as hard as I do.'"[2]

Composition

The album was inspired by 1960s sounds, such as bossa nova, Motown and French pop.[1][3][4][5][6] The album was largely produced by Mike Peden and Yak Bondy, who have produced tracks for acts such as S Club 7 and Lucie Silvas. Other contributions on the album are courtesy of Cathy Dennis, Henry Binns, and Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi. The album was released via 19 Recordings, which is a division of 19 Management, the company owned by Simon Fuller. Bunton says of the inspiration behind the album: "I've been listening to Motown since I was about five, and just loving it, being very passionate about the fact how it was all done live, and I thought, 'Hold on, I always talk about the fact I love '60s and Motown', so I thought I'd take elements of it, bits of it, and put it into my album, so that's exactly what I did." However, Bunton's songs on this album mainly started life as a simple scribble. She says, "I have a little book beside my bed, where I put all my ideas for songs and stuff. It's kind of weird, 'cuz usually when I'm having a dream, I'll wake up, and I'll write something down, then I'll look at it again and think, 'God, what was I dreaming about?'"

Singles

The album's lead single, "Free Me", was released in May 2003. The song immediately picked up airplay, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart.

"Maybe" was released as the second single in October 2003, and also gained extensive airplay throughout the United Kingdom, peaking at number six.

In January 2004, "I'll Be There" was released as the third single from the album. Like its two predecessors, it performed well on the charts, peaking at number seven on the UK chart.

Later in the year, in May, "Crickets Sing for Anamaria", was released as the fourth single. The song peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

In the United States, both "Free Me" and "Maybe" were dance club regulars, reaching numbers four and six on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, respectively.[7]

Critical reception

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Free Me received generally positive reviews from music critics, many of whom approved of the use of sounds from the Motown and 1960s era. BBC Music said the album is "light and frothy, like a good cappuccino, but this time it's with the sugar taken out".[8] General acclaim was given to the album by Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, who described the album as being the best Spice Girl-related record. He noted: "This music is stylish without being flashy, thanks in large part to the charmingly tuneful, sturdy songs (all but one bearing a writing credit from Emma). While Bunton may still have a small, sweet voice, she's developed a stronger presence on record, giving this album not just a face, but a fetching persona that's hard to resist".[1]

According to Lynsey Hanley from newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Bunton's new musical direction was "a brave move, given that high-sheen, saucy R&B is currently the main mode of expression for female pop performers, but Emma's lilting vocals and only faintly suggestive image suit this album's less aggressive style".[9]

"The album's got charm, grace and it's fun", said Q magazine. Marie Claire magazine said it "mixes up bossa nova with James Bond soundtrack" and that "Emma resembles a seductive Brigitte Bardot".[10]

Track listing

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Notes

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Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Free Me.[11]

Musicians

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  • Emma Bunton – lead vocals (all tracks)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; backing vocals (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Charlie Russell – programming (tracks 1–3, 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; live drums (tracks 1–3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; drums, live programming (track 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mike Peden – bass (tracks 1, 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; percussion (track 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; keyboards (tracks 3, 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Graham Kearns – guitars (tracks 1, 2, 9, 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; bass guitar (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Helene Muddiman – keyboards (track 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; backing vocals (tracks 1, 3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Martin Hayles – keyboards (tracks 1, 3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Nick Ingman – orchestra arrangement, orchestra conducting (tracks 1–4, 7, 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader (tracks 1, 3, 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Pete Gordeno – keyboards (tracks 2, 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; piano (tracks 2, 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Yak Bondy – keyboards (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Ralph Salmins – drums (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Frank Ricotti – percussion (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; vibes (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Steve Pearce – bass (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Hugh Burns – guitar (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • John Parricelli – guitar (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Friðrik Karlsson – guitar (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Allan Simpson – guitar (track 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Simon Clarke – flute (track 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Brett Morgan – drums (track 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Lisa Daniels – backing vocals (track 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Ray "Madman" Hedges – arrangement (track 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Nigel Butler – arrangement (track 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Fabien Waltmann – programming, guitars (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Nicky Brown – piano, Rhodes (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Cathy Dennis – backing vocals (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Luis Fonsi – vocals (track 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Henrik Linnemann – flute (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Mike Percy – all other instruments (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Toni Leo – backing vocals (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Alex Clarke – additional programming (track 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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Technical

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  • Mike Peden – production (tracks 1–3, 6, 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; mixing (tracks 3, 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (tracks 1, 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Isobel Griffiths Ltd. – orchestra contractor (tracks 1–4, 7, 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Richard Dowling – mastering
  • Yak Bondy – production (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Dan Frampton – mixing (tracks 4, 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Steve Price – recording engineering (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Simon Ellis – production (track 7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Ray "Madman" Hedges – production, mixing (track 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Nigel Butler – mixing (track 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mark Emmitt – mixing (track 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Cathy Dennis – production (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Fabien Waltmann – production, additional recording (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Steve Fitzmaurice – mixing (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Richard Wilkinson – mixing assistance (track 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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  • Phil Bodger – mixing (track 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Tim Lever – production (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mike Percy – production (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Dan Panton – engineering assistance (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Steve Lewinson – production (track 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Pete Lewinson – production (track 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Lipso Facto – additional production (track 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • The Asian Sensation – mixing (track 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

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Artwork

  • Yacht Associates – art direction
  • Darren S. Feist – photography
  • Roger Dean – architectural photography
  • Core Digital – scanning, retouching

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Release history

Release history for Free Me
Region Date Label
United Kingdom 9 February 2004 19
Australia 19 July 2004 Universal
Brazil 20 September 2004
Germany 21 January 2005
United States 25 January 2005 19

Notes

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References

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