Even when Marc Anthony had accomplished his major goals of becoming one of the world's best-selling salsa singers, getting successfully involved in the English-language market as well, he decided to look over his roots once again, delving into songwriting to follow his previous Latin dance record,Contra La Corriente, released in 1997. Recorded over an eight-month period, Libre comprised nine songs, including the hit single "Celos" and the brilliantly made "Este Loco Que te Mira," "Hasta Que Vuelvas Conmigo," and "Barco a la Deriva." Flawless and seductive, Libre comes to an end with "Caminaré," getting Marc Anthony closer to one of Cuban music's treasures, a Latin style known as bolero.