Large Pro’s Top 10 Favorite 45s

One of the greatest Hip Hop producer-slash-emcees to appear on wax, Large Professor gives a breakdown of his top 10 favorite 45s. Just a warm up for the 23rd Blackout radio anniversary this Friday. Hit Continue Reading to check Large Pro‘s selection.

Props to discogs for the dope interview.

The Third Guitar – Baby Don’t Cry

I was originally put on to this record by the legendary Bronx record collector Sgt. Len Funk. He would play me records and give me assignments to go and see if I could find them. I found my copy at Strider Records on Jones St. in 1989.

Melvin Bliss – Synthetic Substitution

There was a list that circulated of the original artists of the Ultimate Breaks & Beats break compilation records. Before that list, everyone thought Substitution was made by Herb Rooney. When that list surfaced and I saw who the artist really was, I went to House Of Oldies with Pete Rock and asked the guy if he had any copies. They had a system where he would intercom downstairs to a guy in the basement, and if they had the record there would be two beeps, and if not the guy downstairs would intercom back, “No copies”. When we heard those two beeps we looked at each other and it was on! We immediately asked how many copies he had, and he said four. We asked him to send all four up through a conveyor belt system they had. Pete bought two and I bought two. Early!

Gene Faith – Family Man

A semi rare 45 that started as a Downstairs Records sure shot. You had to be connected to know what that was though, because it wasn’t a record you would find in an average home collection or soul 45 section. High energy from start to finish, with many dips and dives to get into.

Papa Don Association – Souled Out

Caught a copy while digging thru “Charlie’s Diner” in New Brunswick, NJ. You could call Charlie to find whatever rare record you were trying to get at that time, and there was a 95% chance he’d have it. But the key was to actually take the time to dig through the records he had in the diner. I found Souled Out and Allen Toussaint’s Get Out My Life Woman amongst the 45’s he had just laying around on the floor in the diner.

Gwen McCrae – 90% Of Me Is You

My “out of the ordinary” record digging started while I was in high school. While everyone was still searching for James Brown records, I wanted to find that “other” stuff that was more rare. I would always ask my friends in school if their parents had records, and some of them would say “Yes” accompanied by, “and they’re just sitting in the closet” or, “and they don’t use them”. I would ask if they could bring them to school, or can I come check ’em out. A girl I loved at the time let me go through the collection at her house, and that’s when I found it. It turned out to be a song we’d both love, along with Freda Payne’s The Easiest Way To Fall

Ken Lazarus – So Good Together

The grandfather of the Main Source DJ’s, Mr. Ceasar McKenzie, was a Canadian Soul artist. He had some serious records in his collection. One day while checking his records, I came across that FRM label and began playing it. It was something about that song that I just loved, so I kept playing it over and over. It wasn’t a deep funk or drum break joint, but it just had a heavenly vibe to it that I connected with. I asked him if I could take the record back to NY and he obliged. One of my favorite records till this day.

Oladepo Ogomodede (Mickey O’Bryan) – Love Story

There was a record store in Jamaica, Queens named Greenline. The store was dope because it was right around the corner from Studio 1212, and whenever we’d take a break or had to pass some time we could just dip to the store. Greenline had insanely rare 45’s that till this day I still haven’t seen other copies of, and Love Story is one of them. I think it’s a Jamaican take on a classic. Very lo-fi and funky with ill horns and guitars. I found that and Milly & Silly Gettin’ Down For Xmas at Greenline the same day.

Gene Evans – I Still Love You Little Miss

Just a nice feel good song that I found in my parents’ collection. Something about it sticks with me, and every now and then I have to hear it.

Lou Courtney ‎– Hey Joyce

I love the late 60’s sounding Harlem street vibe this song has to it. It makes me imagine how it was in those days. Guys in highwater pants with their hair slicked back, and women in thieir mini-dresses at the bar snapping their fingers. Also an extremely early instance of a swift 4/4 drum break.

The Flamingos ‎– Do It, To It

One day my older sister kept playing this record over and over again while I was asleep. It was 4 in the morning and she was just sitting in the living room, in the dark, playing the record over and over again. My room was a converted dining room area that was sectioned off, so I could hear everything. When I woke up that next morning before school, I went to find that record so I could hear what she was listening for, and have loved that record ever since.