From rare Chicago 45s to sunlit Bay Area grooves, Bob Abrahamian’s “Sitting in the Park” crafts a loving tribute to forgotten soul. This episode offers deep digs from Pam Bowie, The Emotions, and Moses Dillard, reflecting the power of regional soul scenes in shaping America’s musical landscape. Bob’s curated flow—spanning Chicago, L.A., Milwaukee, Florida, and beyond—preserves the legacy of community-rooted artistry. Whether revealing early work from future stars like Peabo Bryson or spotlighting elusive vinyl by Push or Marlin, the show is a cultural time capsule that champions the unsung architects of soul.
Bob Abrahamian 0:00
This first record is a Chicago record that I’ve been looking for, for a very long time. This is a singer named Pam Bowie, and the track is called He's All I Need.
Bob Abrahamian 06:30
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. You’re listening to Sitting in the Park. My name is Bob. The show happens every Sunday night— supposed to start at 7:30, and it goes till 9 PM.
That was a long set, so let’s count back from the last cut.
The last one you heard was from Milwaukee—Gary and the Browns with Promise of a Better World.
I played an earlier version before, not sure if that one was aired yet, but it was a bit different.
Before that, a group called Sensations of Soul with Memories Just for Tonight, then Love, Peace and Happiness Band with It’s What’s In Your Mind, followed by The Festivals with So in Love.
Then Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display with A Promise to Love You. I think he was still in the group at that time—the lead might actually be Peabo Bryson. Before that, MacArthur with It’s So Real, then The Imported Moods with I’m a Scorpio—they’re from Florida.
After that, The Devastations with What Makes Me Feel This Way, and we started off that set with a Chicago cut—Pam Bowie with He's All I Need.
Bob Abrahamian 08:40
Okay, let me give you some info before I play more music.
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Bob Abrahamian 09:45
Another show you might like on this station is called Dustin’s Party.
It airs every Thursday night from 9 to midnight, and there’s a rotating lineup of DJs who play soul, funk, blues, and jazz from the '60s, '70s, and '80s.
And one more show you might enjoy is From the Subway to the Street Corner.
That show happens every Sunday night from 6 to 7:30—right before my show.
The host, Bob—a different Bob than me—plays doo-wop music.
So tune in Sundays, 6 to 7:30 PM.
Okay, I’ve got about half a show left.
If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424.
This next record is my Classic Chicago Dusty of the Day.
This is The Emotions with Shouting Out Love.
Bob Abrahamian 11:30
You’re tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago.
You’re listening to Sitting in the Park. My name is Bob. This show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM.
We started off that set with The Emotions, with Shouting Out Love.
A few months ago, I played the Vita Brown version of that one.
After that, from L.A., Dale Darby with Let’s Get It Together.
Then we heard The Edwards Generation with I Need You Only,
The Fabulous Playmates with Don’t Turn Your Back on Loving—I played the other side of that a few weeks ago.
After that, a West Coast group called Traffic Jam with I Can’t Get Over You.
Bob Abrahamian 13:00
Okay, if you like my show, one other thing you might like is my website — www.sittinginthepark.com. On that site, I have audio from all the shows I’ve done over the past five or six years, and I’ve got audio from interviews I’ve done with Chicago groups. So check it out if you want to hear more of this music. I’ll have tonight’s show up probably in a few days. If you want to call me up, the number again is 773-702-8042. Up next is a group from Seattle called Push. The track is called You Turn Me On.
Bob 16:45
This next track is a really nice Bay Area cut that’s appropriate for today — and I’m really glad the temperature’s cooled down a little bit, at least. I think it’s a group named Marlin—although it sounds like a person’s name. This track is called It’s Summer.
Bob Abrahamian 19:40
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. This is the end of the Sitting in the Park show. It happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM. The last track you just heard was a Hispanic group from L.A. called The Sly, with Tonight’s the Night— very different from the Cleveland group. That track was one of their two original songs; most of their catalog consists of covers. Before that, from Cleveland, The Ponderosa Twins + One with Bound, and before them, Joe Washington Wash with Look Me in the Eyes. And the first two cuts in that set were both from the Bay Area. The second one was by a group called Marlin — or possibly a solo artist — and the track was called It’s Summer.
