During this Mother’s Day broadcast of The Sitting in the Park Show, Bob Abrahamian takes listeners on a soulful journey through rare tracks and heartfelt dedications. Kicking off with Jan Bradley’s Mama Didn’t Lie and Prince Curtis’ Mama’s Little Girl, the show delivers a blend of Chicago soul, Dusty records, and rare gems. With a commitment to spotlighting local talent and rare records, Bob reintroduces his Classic Chicago Dusty segment, playing Ain’t Got No Problems by Sunday Williams. He weaves in soulful narratives of the mothers who inspire these tracks while effortlessly transitioning to a set including Ruby Jean, The Planets, and Jimmy Conner. By highlighting the local scene and rare tracks, this show serves as both a celebration of soul music and a tribute to its often-overlooked contributors.
Bob Abrahamian 09:30
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. You are now listening to The Sitting in the Park Show. My name is Bob, and this is a weekly soul show that happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. We started off this set with a couple of songs about mothers, wishing everybody a Happy Mother's Day. First was Jan Bradley with Mama Didn't Lie. After that, there was Prince Curtis with Mama's Little Girl. Next, it was Rufus Wonder & The Additions with So Upset—sending that out to Rufus in California. After that, we had Beware by The Compliments, dedicated to James Conley. Finally, the last track in this set was from a group called Ebo-nees, who may have been from Chicago as they were on a local label. The track was Doll Age.
Okay, we are just getting started. If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424. A few weeks ago, a caller asked why I had stopped doing my Classic Chicago Dusty segment, and I agreed that I should start it up again. Not sure why I stopped, but usually, I do it around 8 p.m. However, I'm going to do it right now. This is Classic Chicago Dusty, where I play a record that got some play in Chicago. This next track is from around 1969 by a singer named Sun, well, this is Ain't Got No Problems by Sunday Williams.
Bob Abrahamian 27:16
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. You are listening to The Sitting in the Park Show. I hope everybody is having a fantastic Mother's Day. Started off that set with my Classic Chicago Dusty, and it definitely was from 1969 because I was looking at the label. That was Sunday Williams with Ain't Got No Problems. After that, we had a singer named Ruby Jean with Roving Girl from California—an awesome record. Then came Towana and the Total Destruction with Wear Your Natural, Baby—a great name for a group. Following that, we played Color Me Blue by The Decisions, which is the flip side of a record I played a few weeks ago. Lastly, we had a track called The Reality of Life by Jimmy Conner from California.
We have about an hour left in the show. If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424. The next record probably isn't the best fit for Mother's Day, but it's a good one. This is a group called The Planets, and the track is Everybody's Getting High.
Bob Abrahamian 39:20
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. You are listening to The Sitting in the Park Show. My name is Bob, and this show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. I hope everybody is having a great Mother's Day. We started off with a record from a Macon, Georgia, group called The Planets with Everybody's Getting High. After that, we played a new recording from 2009 by Willie West from New Orleans. It was Dollars with the Devil Gives Me Everything Except What I Need, and finally, we had a track called I Don't Want to Lose You by The President's Council, a group from Chicago.
I have to give you some information: Do you want to be a real-life superhero? Well, you can, just by donating blood. Did you know that one pint of blood can save up to three lives? Donating blood is a real way to make a big difference. Be a hero—go to www.bloodsaves.com to find out more.
Also, when you’re a mentor, there are a lot of things you can do together. Sometimes the most important thing you can do with a child is just spend time together. Be a friend. Be a mentor. Just be there. Go to BigBrothersBigSisters.org.
One other show you might like on this station is called Dusty’s Party. That show airs every Thursday night from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. On that show, there’s a rotating lineup of DJs playing soul, funk, blues, and jazz from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. That’s Dusty’s Party, every Thursday night from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.
Okay, we are halfway through the show. If anyone wants to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424. I’m going to send a shoutout to Alene Wade, who called up. This next record is really nice. It’s one of the best records that I got, maybe in the last couple of months. If you’re listening live, you should listen to this in stereo because they do the harmony in different channels. This is a group from Ohio called Sapphire, and the track is How You’ve Been Getting Along.
Bob Abrahamian 56:09
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. You are listening to The Sitting in the Park Show. This is a weekly soul show that happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., and my name is Bob. If you like my show, you might like my website, which is www.sittinginthepark.com. On the site, I have audio of all the interviews I've done, and I've actually put audio of my shows up there since like 2005 or something like that. I’ll have tonight's show online later tonight. That's www.sittinginthepark.com.
We started off that set with an awesome record from Columbus, Ohio, from 1977. That was a group called Sapphire with How You've Been Getting Along. After that, we played a track from Pittsburgh by a group called That with Baby, Don't You Hold Me. Then came a song by Blue Magic—but not the Ted Mills group—called Can I Say I Love You. We followed that up with a track from Columbus again; this one was actually unreleased until about a month ago when it got pressed on a local Chicago label called Numero Group. They pressed it on a 45 and gave it away for Record Store Day. That was a group called Reverb Limited with Please Love Me. And the last cut was an awesome cover by a kiddie group called The Beck Brothers. It was a cover of The Bells, and it was from Philadelphia, from 1972. The other side of the record is actually kind of more awesome because it’s an original, but it’s like a straight-up Jackson Five rip-off. They sound exactly like the Jackson Five. It's pretty funny.
Okay, the number here, if you want to call me up, is 773-702-8424. I’m going to send a shoutout to Tony. Thanks for calling up; I appreciate it. This next record is by a singer from Detroit named Curt Darin. The track is Two on a Cloud.
Bob Abrahamian 1:18:15
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. You’re listening to The Sitting in the Park Show. I hope everybody is having a wonderful Mother's Day. I'm going to send a shoutout to Tony C in California. We started off that set with a Detroit record by Curt Darin. The track was Two on a Cloud. After that, we played a song by a group that I know nothing about, but Barry White produced it. That was a group called West Wing with Falling in Love is a No-No. Next, we had a song by the Ted Mills-led Blue Magic called You Won't Have to Tell Me Goodbye. I didn’t even realize while planning out the show that I was playing two different Blue Magic groups!
Then, we played a record from Chicago by Billy Butler and Infinity with Storm. And lastly, we played a track from Kansas City by Eugene Smiley and the Essence of Love called We're Lovers by Day and Night.
