Bundle of Joy

Personnel: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, horns); Pat Henderson, Dee Ervin, Julia Tillman Waters, Maxine Willard Waters, Venetta Fields (vocals, background vocals); Jay Graydon, Richard Littlefield (guitar, guitars); David T. Walker, Craig McMullen (guitar); Craig McMalien (guitars); Dorothy Ashby (harp); David Garfield (cello, celesta, keyboards); Bill Henderson (strings); Ernie Watts (flute, alto flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Bill Green (flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Bill Green (flute, tenor saxophone); David Sherr (oboe, wind); Eric Ward (bassoon, bass instrument); Azar Lawrence (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Ernie Fields Jr. (baritone saxophone); Nolan Andrew Smith, Snooky Young, Bobby Bryant (trumpet); Marilyn Robinson (French horn, horns); George Bohannon, Garnett Brown (trombone); Michael Stanton (keyboards); Curtis Robertson, Jr., Henry Davis (bass instrument); Frederick J. Alexander, Ed Greene, Fred Alexander, Carlos Vegas, Carlos Vega (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (congas, percussion); Bob Zimmitti, Bob Zimmon, Bob Zimitti, Tommy Vig (percussion); Julia Waters (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Bob Hughes.
Recording information: Total Experience Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Photographers: Mick Haggerty; Karen Filter.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Craig McMalien; Bill Henderson ; Curtis A. Robertson; Henry E. Davis; Jay Graydon.
Arranger: Bert DeCoteaux.
This is one of Freddie Hubbard's more commercial albums that he made for Columbia in the mid-to-late '70s. As such, it is not a bad effort. The trumpeter's duet with harpist Dorothy Ashby on "Portrait of Jenny" has its pretty moments and Ernie Watts gets a good tenor solo on "Rahsaan." With an oversized funky rhythm section, strings and five background vocalists, this was a genuine bid for the '70s soul mainstream.