Tia Carroll - You Gotta Have It

 Tia Carroll - You Gotta Have It - Little Village Foundation

From the opening of "You Got To Have It," this listener became absorbed in this new album by veteran Bay Area vocalist Tia Carroll. Carroll has been singing for years with her own groups and the likes of Jimmy McCracklin and Sugar Pie DeSanto. While she has recorded albums before, this is her first USA release. Noel Hayes has been listening to her for over twenty years and made this recording happen and brought Carroll to Greaseland Studios for Kid Andersen and Jim Pugh to put together their magic. 

Besides Andersen's guitar and Pugh's keyboards, the studio band consists of Steve Ehrmann on bass, Vicky Randle on percussion, and Paul Revelli on drums. There is a horn section of Mike Rinta on trombone, Rob Sudduth on tenor sax, Aaron Lington on baritone sax, and Jeff Lewis on trumpet. Backing vocals are provided by The Sons of Soul Revivers, Lisa Leuschner Andersen, and Willy Jordan. Charlie Hunter guests on bass & guitar on one track, Igor Prado plays lead guitar on one track, Derrick D'Mar Martin plays drums on one selection, and Gordon Beadle adds sax to two songs.

The album opens with her cover of Anthony Hamilton's "Ain't Nobody Worrying." It's a stunning rendition of this stark depiction of urban street life with the shots fly high, kids die young, and the homeless have no place to turn. Hunter plays both bass and guitar, and The Sons of the Soul Revivers add backing vocals as the intensity of Carroll's stunning vocal slowly builds before she explodes. The rest of this album is of a similar level. For example, Jim Pugh co-wrote "The Last Time" while with Robert Cray. Kid Andersen adds a searing Magic Sam feel with his guitar. 

Rick Estrin wrote "Don't Put Your Hand on Me," and Carroll belts out her warning against a backing that evokes Albert King's "The Hunter." Andersen's guitar suggests Albert King's style with a dash of Albert Collins mixed in. The rendition of a Johnny Ace ballad, " Never Let Me Go," follows. It might bring back memories of some of Etta James' early Chess recordings. Gordon Beadle takes a booting solo here. Carroll's own "Leaving Again" with Andersen's swampy wah-wah guitar has a seventies soul feel. Then there is a stellar rendition of Johnny Copeland's "Mama Told Me," along with a soulful version of Z.Z. Hill's "I Need Someone." Kid and Lisa Andersen wrote "Ready To Love Again." This song comes across as a lost Hi Records recording. Igor Prado adds stinging guitar to Carroll's original, "Move On."

An impassioned interpretation of The Staples "Why Am I Treated So Bad" closes this recording. One wonders why it took so long for Tia Carroll to get an album issued in the States. Her soulfulness, phrasing, timing, and clarity of her diction result in some of the most compelling blues and soul vocals this listener has heard in some time. With a strong musical program and support from an exceptional studio band, Tia Carroll's "You Gotta Have It" is a simply sensational recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is Tia Carroll with Igor Prado from 2012.