Roger Collins – She’s Looking Good

Download or Listen To Roger Collins – She’s Looking Good from the Galaxy 45

It seems like it was yesterday when COOP dropped his Ghetto Organ Mix as the first mix in the Guest Mix Series. I can say once again that Tony C’s 45 Tear Up! was a fine ending to the series. The music goes on however. Even though there has been a ton of 45’s, Lp’s, and 12″s used by all our guest selectors, this is still a drop in the bucket, and FMF is bringing you even more music. This midweek I bring you one of my favorite Bay Area musicians, who I was introduced to in the 1990’s. I went ape shit over his record “Foxy Girl In Oakland”. Thanks to the super diggers over at Ubiquity Records for unearthing the Bay Area classics which included that side. I searched high and low for it, and refused to buy it on E Bay ( I have since changed my mind about online auctions ), only wanting to find it in the field. I never have, unfortunately. However, I uncovered another side, which turned up in Psych Dave’s box of goodies one Saturday. Here’s that gem, “She’s Looking Good” by Roger Collins, on Galaxy Records from 1968.

Roger Collins is a Bay Area musician (San Francisco and Oakland) that, as I imagine, was a staple on the circuit like Johnny Talbot in the 60’s. Influenced by Blues, Gospel, Soul and Hillbilly music, he would go on to release a string of records of the Galaxy Label. The Galaxy label put out a variety of records by a nice cross section of artists. Their roster would of course include Collins, but notables like the Apollos, Cal Tjader, John Lee Hooker, and Little Johnny Taylor. They would also put out sides by Johnny Lewis and the Gents, Ella Jamerson, The Merced Blue Notes, and JJ Malone among others. This record was an international hit, with a version done by Wilson Pickett. Some may argue that Wilson’s version “bitch slapped” Roger’s original, but let’s be real here people: Roger Collins was and is still a baaaaad man. I am gonna ride for this side not because I don’t like the Wicked One, but because I root for the underdog. Collins is just that. He would release the party anthem of the Bay area, the aforementioned “Foxy Girl In Oakland”, which I can not say enough about, and where Collins would combine many of his musical influences. Apparently this Collins side is a little bit easier to get ahold of, and I would definitely recommend this side to any and all. I included it on the last FMF podcast Frank ‘N Beans, and it was on a past mix by Tony C. Great minds think alike, and I needed to share this side with all of you. See you Friday with another dusty piece of 45 goodness. Keep Diggin’!