Bob Abrahamian 00:00
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM, Chicago. You're now listening to the Sitting in the Park show. I'm really sorry—I've been gone for a month. I’ve been really sick. Still kind of sick—it’s clearing up, but slowly.
But as a reward for your patience, I have a special long show today. I’ll be going until 10 PM, playing two and a half hours of soul music. I have most of the show planned out, but you can still call me up. The number here is 773-702-8424.
I'm going to start off this show with a record that has Chicago connections. It was produced by Monk Higgins, based in LA. This is Dee Irwin and Mamie Galore with I Didn't Want to Do It (But I Did).

Bob Abrahamian 03:45
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. My name is Bob, and this is the Sitting in the Park show. The show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM. Sorry I've been gone for a while — I've been sick, still recovering, but slowly getting better. That last record you just heard was by a group called The High Tones. That track was called Good News. Before that, a group from Nashville — I think — called The Contributors of Soul, with Look What You Done for Me. I interviewed Gerald Dickerson, who sang and wrote that song. He was kind of annoyed because he got that song out before Al Green — and Al Green was actually hanging out in Chicago at the time it was performed. So Gerald was saying Al Green stole the title of the song for his hook. Before that, Major Lance with Since You’ve Been Gone — totally Chicago, but sounded totally Detroit. Before that, from Philly, Honey & The Bees with Love Addict. And we started off the set with Dee Irwin and Mamie Galore with I Didn't Want to Do It (But I Did).
Okay — we’ve got a special two-and-a-half-hour show tonight. Gotta send a shout out to Dre, and a shout out to Sam Bell. If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424. This next record is by a group I interviewed — they were from Cabrini-Green. The Master Plan Incorporated. This record was recorded in the ’70s, but wasn’t released until now. Actually, during my interview, we played it off a bad cassette tape, but someone just found the master tape and released it — and it’s a good song, so you should check it out. This is The Master Plan Incorporated with Try It, You’ll Like It. I'm gonna send this one out to Doug.

Bob Abrahamian 10:15
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM, Chicago. You're listening to the Sitting in the Park show. My name is Bob. The show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM — although today, we’ve got an extra hour. We're going until 10 PM. And sorry again that I've been gone for a while — I’ve been sick, slowly recovering. Hopefully, I’ll be back next week. Also, I gotta send a shout out to Bill — thanks for calling!
That last record you just heard was actually a new recording from 2013. That was Myron & E and the Soul Investigators with If I Gave You My Love. I think Myron & E are from the U.S., but the musicians are all from the Timmion label in Norway — so, gonna send them a shout out. Before that, a group from either New York or New Jersey — The Cherrelle Brothers — with The Price. Before that, another new recording from that same group of musicians — this one from this year — that was Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators with You Got Me Moonwalking. We started off that set with an old recording that just got released — that was a 1970s track from The Master Plan Incorporated, out of Cabrini-Green. That one was Try It, You’ll Like It.
Okay — we’ve got two hours left in the show. If you want to call me up, the number is 773-702-8424. Apologies if I don’t have everyone’s records — I actually play everything off of 45s, so whatever’s in my box is what I have. Anyway, this next record is my Chicago Dusty of the day. I think I’ve never — ever — in the 12-year history of my show, played Denise LaSalle. Which is kind of bad. So here she is, with an early record she did. This track is called Heartbreaker of the Year.

Bob Abrahamian 18:55
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM, Chicago. You’re listening to the Sitting in the Park show. My name is Bob. This show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM — although today, we’ve got an extra long show, going until 10 PM. That last record was Brenda Jones and Coconut Love with I Am the Other Woman. Before that, Vita Brown with I Could See Every Woman’s Man But Mine. That was the flip side of her hit Short Stopping. Before that, Bettye Swann with I’m Living a Lie. Before that, Ella Washington with I Can’t Afford to Lose Him. I’ve actually played another version of that song on my show by Baby Washington — but they’re not the same person. I think Ella Washington was from Florida. And we started off that set in Chicago with Denise LaSalle and Heartbreaker of the Year.
Okay, I’ve got to give you some information before playing more music. Have you gotten the medical tests you need? For a list of tests every man should have, go to ahrq.gov. Also, when it comes to money — don’t rely on luck. Brown bag it to work instead of ordering out. For free ideas on how to save, go to feedthepig.org. And another show you might like on this station is called Dusty Party. That show happens every Thursday night from 9 PM to midnight. On that show, there’s a rotating lineup of DJs who play soul, funk, blues, jazz, and more from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. If anyone wants to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424.
This next record — everyone should know this one. It’s The Sequence with The Third Degree.

Bob Abrahamian 26:50
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM, Chicago. You’re listening to the Sitting in the Park show. My name is Bob. This show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM — although today, we’re going until 10 PM. That last set featured a bunch of records that were newly released, even though they were originally recorded in the 1970s. The first record in that set was a South Side of Chicago singer named Calvin Harris — that was Wives Get Lonely Too. Before that, I don’t really know the full story, but it was another ’70s track just recently released on the same label — the Chicago-based Numero Group. That was The Unnatural Funk Band with Living in the Past. Before that — believe it or not — a new recording by a group from the 1970s in Minneapolis. The Valdons. They got back together and recorded a new track with a live band, so it really sounds like a proper ’70s soul record. That was What You Gonna Do?. One complaint with that Valdons record, though — it kind of sounds half-finished. I think the musicians need to work on that one a bit more. And we started off that set on the South Side of Chicago with The Sequence and The Third Degree.
Okay, we’re going until 10 PM playing soul music. If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424. This next record is another ’70s recording that was previously unreleased — and it's a really good one. Here’s a group called Bump and the Soul Stompers with Standing on the Outside.

Bob Abrahamian 34:45
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM, Chicago. You’re listening to the Sitting in the Park show. My name is Bob. This show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM — although today we’ve got a special show going until 10 PM. And again, apologies for missing nearly a month — I’ve been sick, slowly recovering. That last record I just played was a group called The Illusions with I’d Like to Say I Love You. Before that, from Chicago, The Five Stairsteps — or Stair Steps — with Two Weeks Notice. Before that, a very obscure group from Mishawaka, Indiana — The Brotherhood — with We Can Make It If We Try. From Richmond, Virginia — Spectrum with Let’s Fall in Love. And we started off that set with a group I don’t know anything about. That was a newly released ’70s recording by Bump and the Soul Stompers with Standing on the Outside. The other side of that record is really good too — I played it on another show. I might even play it again tonight if I run out of stuff.
Anyway, if you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424. This next record has a really nice sound and feels relevant to this time of year. I'm sending this one out to Curtis Gray, who sings on it. This is Curtis Gray and the Courtesy Band with Holidays.

Bob Abrahamian 41:50
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. You’re listening to a special extended edition of the Sitting in the Park show. My name is Bob. This show usually happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM. Also, if you like my show, I have a website — it's www.sittinginthepark.com. On the site, I’ve got audio from all of my music shows going back to 2006. I started this show in 2002. I’ll have tonight’s show up either later tonight or tomorrow. So if you’re enjoying it or want to hear other shows, check out the website.
That last record was by Nature’s Divine — that was I Just Can’t Control Myself. Before that, Al Hudson and the Partners with I Don’t Want You to Leave Me. Before that, Eddie McLoyd with Once You Fall in Love. Before that, a group called August Heat with You and Me. That was a new recording that just came out on a UK label — Soul Junction — on a 45. And we started off that set with a record from 1985 by Curtis Gray and the Courtesy Band out of L.A. — that track was called Holidays. Hope everyone is having great holidays so far.
Okay, we’ve got about 45 minutes left in the show. If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424. This next record is from New York — this is a group called Future 2000, and the track is called Good Things.

Bob Abrahamian 48:40
Hey, you’re tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM, Chicago. You’re listening to the Sitting in the Park show — special extended version today. That last record was a group from Memphis called The Intersection — that track was Let Me Love You. Before that, a group from Milwaukee called The Perfections with Can This Be Real. Before that, a group from Detroit — Joystick — with My Baby. Before that, from Baton Rouge — a group called Furia — with Keep On Trying. And the first record in that set was from New York City — that was Future 2000 with Good Things.
Okay, I’ve got to give you a little more information:
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Also, every day we count on things like the traffic light, the mailbox, and the elevator. But did you know all of those things came from the minds of African Americans? Support minority education today, so we don’t miss out on the next big idea tomorrow.
The United Negro College Fund — a mind is a terrible thing to waste. To support the UNCF, visit uncf.org or call 1-800-332-UNCF.
And one more — another show you might like on the station is called From the Subway to the Street Corner. That happens before my show, Sunday nights, alternating weeks from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Check that out if you like doo-wop music from the ’50s and early ’60s.
These next two records are going out to Sam Bell. Also, gotta send a shout out to Richard Murray — not sure if I already did that. First up — this is The Naturals with Let Love Be True.

Bob Abrahamian 56:25
Okay, this next one is going out by request to Ray. This is Peeping Through the Window.

Bob Abrahamian 60:40
Okay, you’re tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM, Chicago. You’re listening to the Sitting in the Park show. Another day, another great selection of soul music. I tried to play as many requests as I could. Thanks to everyone who called, everyone who tuned in. Don’t forget — you can hear the show online at sittinginthepark.com, where I’ve got recordings of past episodes going back to 2006. I’ll be back next week — hopefully with even more great records. Until then, stay safe, be well — and keep your soul alive.