Oakland guitar ace Eugene Blacknell released multiple singles that ranged in style EUGENE BLACKNELL: WE CAN’T TAKE LIFE FOR GRANTED from raw r'n'b to power house funk. His musical career stretched from the early Super Cool is the second volume in our California Soul series and features music recorded between 1966 and 1982. Spanning FOR INFORMATION AND SOUNDCLIPS OF OUR TITLES, GO TO WWW.UBIQUITYRECORDS.COM/PRESS STREET DATE: 9/11/2007 1960s to the end of the 1980s and during that time he established himself as an eclectic genres from Soul Jazz, Blues, Heavy Funk, Modern Soul, East Bay original, an entrepreneur, an activist, and in addition he was a true family Northern Soul, and Disco, there’s even a ballad (previously man. With so many accomplishments it’s an irony of fate that he died before unavailable on CD) from Luv N'Haight favorite Darondo. releasing an album despite having recorded enough material for several. Super Cool was not compiled because of the rare-factor or value of As a kid he dressed sharply and drove a pink and black finned-car to school. His the original releases alone. More importantly this is a treasure tunes were already getting radio play and he would become the youngest musician trove of music that connects the dots between artists and scenes, from the Bay Area to play the Appollo in New York. He opened doors for other eras and genres, and none of the acts or tracks should not be lost African American musicians with his efforts to make sure his band was paid a fair to obscurity. This is music by artists who may not be household wage and by breaking into the San Francisco club circuit. His ability to cross-over names, but were session musicians, players, and characters who from r'n'b to blues, funk and soul put him at head of the Bay Area scene and he kept the scenes from San Francisco to Los Angeles and beyond alive. Artists included on Super Cool have played alongside Fela was often compared to the likes of Albert and BB King. He liked loud and fast cars Kuti and George Clinton and members of the bands featured were and chopper bikes, hung with Larry Graham and Sly Stone, played for Marvin Gaye also integral players in acts like Funkadelic, War, and Sam Cooke's when he came through San Francisco, and is remembered by those who knew him band, there’s even a second cousin to Martin Luther King amidst as a stand-up businessman and an amazing musician. the line-up! Without an album, which would have cemented his recordings in the most acces- Rather than concentrate on one sound or scene, the California sible format, his legacy has been kept alive by way of the stories past on from Soul series is an all-encompassing overview reflecting the eclectic musicians lucky enough to work with Blacknell. In addition his tracks released on range of soul music to come from the state during times which This compilation is made up of his super rare early releases Oakland guitar ace Eugene Blacknell released 7" singles have been sampled by many, most notably Beck. His singles have saw the social and political status quo undergo huge as Eugene Blacknell and the Savonics, the highly sought change.California was an epicenter for that change. The art and multiple singles that ranged in style from raw R&B after raw instrumental Funk as Eugene Blacknell and the become DJ-favorites with the rarest fetching top dollars on the collectors circuit. to power house Funk. His musical career stretched New Breed, his party-style vocal tracks, and a host of music of the times obviously reflects such influences and so Super unreleased material including advertisements recorded to Cool includes super-fly love songs, righteous shouts for freedom from the early 1960s to the end of the 1980s and Ubiquity/Luv N'Haight worked with Gino Blacknell (Eugene's son, himself a and cosmic flower-powered funk. promote live shows on the radio, live recordings, and both producer and member of the New Breed) to compile information, images and during that time he established himself as an East vocal and instrumental studio cuts. The CD and LP booklet Bay original, an entrepreneur, an activist, and in (plus downloadable pdf) include rare pictures and a music. Gino dug up old master tapes to make improved mixes on several tracks. The booklet includes full liner notes with interviews and anecdotes addition he was a true family man. With so many complete history by way of interviews with his widow, band This compilation is made up of his super rare early releases as Eugene Blacknell supplied by the artists, plus facts and figures, rare photos, and accomplishments it’s an irony of fate that he died members, and Bay Area notables. and the Savonics, the highly sought after raw instrumental funk as Eugene Black- images of the releases. “California Soul” has become a brand before releasing an album despite having With 25 tracks in total this is the official Eugene Blacknell nell and the New Breed, his party-style vocal tracks, and a host of unreleased name for Ubiquity with over 25, 000 shirts featuring the California recorded enough material for several. debut album, and the story of a musical prodigy who material including advertisements recorded to promote live shows on the radio, Soul logo and name sold. Watch out for more merchandise to be became a Bay Area Soul, Funk and Blues legend. live recordings, and both vocal and instrumental studio cuts. The CD and LP released in conjunction with this album soon. As a kid he dressed sharply and drove a pink and black finned-car -Interviews with widow Lillie Blacknell, and drummer Curtis booklet (plus downloadable pdf) include rare pictures and a complete history by to school. His tunes were already getting radio play and he would Moore will be made available as a stream and podcast in the way of interviews with his widow, band members, and Bay Area notables. Also Available, V/A California Soul Volume 1 (LHCD/LP039) become the youngest musician from the Bay Area to play the weeks leading up to the album release. Includes in-demand tracks by Rokk, Linda Tillery, Courtial, Apollo in New York. He opened doors for other African American Orquestra Esencia and more. musicians with his efforts to make sure his band was paid a fair -Rare band footage has recently been found and may surface With 25 tracks in total this is the official Eugene Blacknell debut album, and the on youtube/myspace Restock this proven seller on CD and LP now! wage and by breaking into the San Francisco club circuit. His story of a musical prodigy who became a Bay Area soul, funk and blues legend. Reduced price: $__.__ CD and $__.__ Double LP wholesale, until ability to cross-over from R&B to Blues, Funk and Soul put him at -“We Know We Have Got to Live Together” sampled by Beck stock runs out. head of the Bay Area scene and he was often compared to the on “Black Tambourine.” -Interviews with widow Lillie Blacknell, and drummer Curtis Moore will be made likes of Albert and BB King. He liked loud and fast cars and -Liner notes/CD booklet will be available as downloadable pdf. available as a stream and podcast in the weeks leading up to the album release. chopper bikes, hung with Larry Graham and Sly Stone, played for Marvin Gaye when he came through San Francisco, and is FOR FANS OF: -Rare band footage has recently been found and may surface on remembered by those who knew him as a stand-up businessman JAMES BROWN & THE JB’S, THE METERS, THE BLACKBYRDS, DARONDO, TOWER youtube/myspace and an amazing musician. Without an album, which would have OF POWER, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -“We Know We Have Got to Live Together” sampled by Beck on “Black Tambou- FILE UNDER: cemented his recordings in the most accessible format, his legacy rine.” has been kept alive by way of the stories passed on from musicians SOUL, FUNK, R&B, RE-ISSUES 5% DISCOUNT UP TO 1 WEEK AFTER STREET DATE (CD ONLY) -Liner notes/CD booklet will be available as downloadable pdf. lucky enough to work with Blacknell. In addition his tracks released on 7" singles have been sampled by many, most notably Beck. His singles have become DJ-favorites with the rarest fetching top dollars For fans of: James Brown & The JBs, The Meters, The Blackbyrds, Darondo, Sly on the collectors circuit. Stone, Tower of Power CD - CATALOG LHR10055-2 LP - CATALOG LHR10055-1 LIST PRICE: $16.98 LIST PRICE: $19.98 File Under: Funk, Soul, R'n'B, Re-issues Ubiquity/Luv N'Haight worked with Gino Blacknell (Eugene's son, CD BOX LOT: 30 DLP BOX LOT: 30 himself a producer and member of the New Breed) to compile VINYL IS NON-RETURNABLE information, images and music. Gino dug up old master tapes to RECOMMENDED UBIQUITY TITLES: make improved mixes on several tracks. 1010 W. 17TH STREET COSTA MESA, CA 92627 PHONE: (949) 764-9012 FAX: (949) 764-9013 SALES: [email protected] / (949) 764-9012 ext.110 PRESS & PUBLICITY: [email protected] / (949) 764-9012 ext.109 DARONDO VARIOUS ARTISTS VARIOUS ARTISTS LET MY PEOPLE GO SUPER COOL: CALIFORNIA SOUL 2 BAY AREA FUNK 2 CD/LP CD/DLP CD/DLP.