Review: 'You Gotta Have It!' by Tia Carroll

Tia Carroll

By Mike O’Cull

Supremely talented Bay Area blues singer Tia Carroll is going to blow the music world’s collective mind with her first solo American release You Gotta Have It! Produced by Kid Andersen (Rick Estrin and the Nightcats) and Grammy Award-winner Jim Pugh at Andersen’s Greaseland Studio and put out June 1st, 2021 on the Little Village imprint, it’s the record her devoted fans have waited for. The set is loaded with tight blues and soul material, both original and cover, and Carroll is backed by an incredible cast that includes Pugh on piano and organ, the always-amazing, BMA-winning guitar work of Andersen, and the gospel vocals of The Sons of Soul Revivers. Simultaneous guitar/bass funk improv giant Charlie Hunter makes a guest appearance, as does the horn section of Mike Rinta on trombone, Rob Sudduth on tenor sax, Aaron Lington on baritone sax, and Jeff Lewis on trumpet. Saxophonist Gordon Beadle also plays on several tracks.

Tia Carroll has been working in California for decades as a solo artist and bandleader. She’s a vastly underrated artist who has had successful records in Italy and Brazil but hasn’t cracked the US market until now. Carroll has been singing professionally since the early ‘80’s, however, and gained invaluable singing and life experience as a touring backup singer for Golden State blues and soul legends Jimmy McCracklin, Sugar Pie DeSanto, and E.C. Scott. She has an emotive and powerful vocal style that lights up any song she chooses to embrace and gives the impression of a performer about to go from a regional treasure to an international star.

Tia starts the record with the simmering social commentary of soul star Anthony Hamilton’s “Ain’t Nobody Worryin’.” It’s a scathing litany of the difficulties faced by far too many Americans set to a viciously funky groove. Carroll’s intense, hypnotic vocals carry the track’s message straight to the listener’s heart. She brings a certain gravitas to the already-serious lyrics that’s undeniable and priceless. Carroll follows with the aching original soul ballad “Even When I’m Not Alone.” It’s a delicate song about devastating emotions and Carroll delivers it like it’s the last time she’ll ever sing. It’s as strong as any cut from soul music’s golden days and Tia uses it as a canvas for painting with genuine experience.

“Don’t Put Your Hands On Me” is an upbeat R&B romp first written by the legendary Rick Estrin for the late queen of the blues Koko Taylor. The song is a rebuke of domestic violence and Carroll leans all the way into it, telling her problematic partner off in no uncertain terms. She shows her tough side here over her hard-edged band’s swinging pocket and makes it clear that she’s not a person to be trifled with. The horn section adds some brilliantly smooth tones to the arrangement that help keep the song lively while Tia works her magic.

“Mama Told Me” is a pure tale of heartbreak set to a mid-speed shuffle beat. It’s a big blast of proper, angst-ridden blues that deals with loving someone we know is bad for us but doing it anyway. The band drives hard while Carroll puts her blues down, telling us her tale of hard times and alcohol. She closes the record with an outstanding rendition of The Staple Singers’ classic “Why Am I Treated So Bad?” that’s a master class on the art of vintage soul music. The raw emotion in Carroll’s voice will fracture you in the best possible way, especially hearing her with The Sons of Soul Revivers singing all around her. It’s a sublime way to wind down an excellent batch of music and you’d best not miss it. Tia Carroll is on her way to a new level of the game presently and lovers of timeless soul singers are going to flip over You Gotta Have It. Be sure you’re one of them.

Listen to “Our Last Time”