2021 – Little Village
By Phillip Smith; June 12, 2021
I greatly respect the work of Little Village Foundation, and their dedication to helping talented artists who may have no other means to get their music recorded and distributed. One of the latest releases for this non-profit organization is for Bay Area (Richmond, CA) singer-songwriter Tia Carroll. Her voice is a soulful and powerful one, and it sounds fabulous with the backing of Greaseland Studio musicians the great Kid Andersen on guitar, Jim Pugh on piano/organ, and Steve Ehrmann on bass. Blessed with over thirty years of experience, Carroll has performed professionally with artists such as Jimmy McCracklin and Sugar Pie DeSanto. Although Carroll has prior recordings with bands in Italy and Brazil, You Gotta Have It is her first album recorded stateside. Produced by Andersen and Pugh, this grand album consists of eleven spectacular tracks, three of which are Carroll’s own original songs.
I absolutely love her opening track “Ain’t Nobody Worryin’”, featuring Charlie Hunter on guitar/bass. Backed with a funky beat, and topped with Carroll’s brilliantly executed lyrical cadence, she breathes new life to this gritty streetwise song originally from Anthony Hamilton’s 2005 album by the same name. Her vocals shine brightly and exhibit amazing range on “Even When I’m Not Alone”. This song oozes with slow soul, and is beautifully graced with Pugh’s organ accompaniment. There’s something about a nice big blast of horns on a song that sweetly punches a song up and “Don’t Put Your Hands on Me” sets a wonderful example. Written by Rick Estrin for the late, great Koko Taylor, this track is a grand one to say the least. Another of Carroll’s originals “Leaving Again” effortlessly woos me over with its mid-Seventies Isaac Hayes vibe. You Gotta Have It comes to a poignant close with a warm and groovy cover of The Staple Singers’ 1967 release “Why Am I Treated So Bad”. Carroll sings this perfectly in every way with backing vocals from The Sons of the Soul Revivers (James ,Walter, & Dwayne Morgan). The whole band comes together so very nicely for this one too.
I certainly hope we get to hear more of Tia Carroll. You Gotta Have It is a powerful album lush with musical talent. It’s an absolutely striking recording.
