This installment of Sitting in the Park sees Bob Abrahamian spin an eclectic all-vinyl set bridging psychedelic soul, obscure regional singles, and a heartfelt tribute to Chicago bassist Bernard Reed. Beginning with Billy Guy’s cosmic “Hug One Another,” the show winds through rare grooves by The Monticellos, The Fondels, and a standout “Classic Chicago Dusty” from Syl Johnson. Bob’s deep knowledge and unpretentious commentary offer listeners a window into the overlooked corners of soul, reminding us why these records still matter—and how they continue to resonate with emotion, grit, and beauty.
Billy Guy - Hug one another - All Platinum
Monticellos - Plaid Stamps - Cool
Strides - Make your move - M-S
Joe Moore - Hang right in there - Tru-glo-town
Fondells - Young love american style - Pzazz
UST Topaze - Keep me happy - BCMK
Soul Explusion - Love is the answer - Tarentel
Donnie Fonnie and Lavorn - It's a sweet love - Trump
Syl Johnson - Is it because I'm black? - Twinight
Monclairs - Pull your coat - Sunburst
Dan and the Clean Cuts - Open up your heart and let love in - Scepter
Cynthia Sheeler - I love you more than words can say - JB's
Marcelle Joseph - Long Distance Love affair - DSR
Jetton and Prinz - Judge and jury - Pilot master
Kim Morrison - One in a million - Malaco
Egyptians - Come and take my love - Hard Times
Andrew Curd - Spinning Dizzey - Lemco
Greer Bros - Soft Stepping - Instant Hit
Peace Love and Happiness - Ain't nothing but a love thing - ABAB
Sho Nuff - Just to love someone like you - Malaco
Sherman - I want it all - Celebrity
Every once in a while, a radio set does more than entertain—it educates, honors, and elevates forgotten voices. That’s what Bob Abrahamian consistently achieved with Sitting in the Park, and this particular all-music show is no exception. Broadcasting from WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago, Bob takes listeners on a deep and winding ride through psychedelic soul and obscure regional recordings, anchoring the session with a moving tribute to one of Chicago soul's unsung heroes, bassist Bernard Reed.
The show opens with a nod to Billy Guy, better known as a member of the seminal doo-wop and R&B group The Coasters. But here, Guy trades the Coasters' jovial theatrics for something far more introspective and dreamy on "Hug One Another"—a track layered with swirling orchestration and a message of cosmic unity. From there, Bob threads together a patchwork of fuzz-tinged, organ-heavy cuts that defy easy categorization but remain unmistakably soul.
The Monticellos’ “Plaid Stamps,” with its cryptic lyrics, catches Bob’s attention as potentially coded commentary—maybe about hustling or underground economies. Without over-interpreting, Bob invites listeners to participate in the discovery, reinforcing his role not just as DJ, but as curator and co-conspirator in a collective excavation of Black musical memory. This democratic spirit permeates the show.
Next up: The Fondels’ “Young Love, American Style”—a title as evocative as its West Coast arrangement, with sweet harmonies brushed in reverb. UST Topaz, from Buffalo, adds a celebratory bounce with “Keep Me Happy,” a birthday dedication to listener Dre. But one of the most compelling stops is an obscure German pressing by a group of American GIs stationed overseas, credited to The Soul Explosion. Even the name on the label was misspelled—an accidental erasure of identity that, in Bob’s hands, becomes a powerful emblem of soul’s far-reaching diaspora.
It’s these moments that give Abrahamian’s sets their weight. He doesn’t just play songs—he restores context, raises questions, and places forgotten artists back in the canon. This intent is most visible during the Classic Chicago Dusty segment, dedicated this time to Bernard Reed, the prolific session bassist whose grooves underpinned everything from Tyrone Davis to The Chi-Lites. The tribute cut? Syl Johnson’s blisteringly honest “Is It Because I’m Black,” a 1969 release that transcends genre and era. It's a protest, a plea, and a philosophical meditation, powered by Reed’s somber, propulsive bassline.
Bob's admiration for Syl Johnson is evident—not just through the music, but in his anticipation of a possible interview the following week. That moment captures the dynamic between archivist and artist, between soul historian and the voices he’s preserving. Bob doesn’t present himself as the final authority; instead, he opens space for conversation, discovery, and reverence.
From Cleveland’s The Mon-Clairs to New Orleans’ Cynthia Sheeler, and L.A.’s Dan & The Clean Cuts to D.C.’s Marcel Joseph, this set underscores the geographic sprawl and stylistic diversity of American soul. Each track is a portal into a different regional scene—each artist, a story waiting to be heard. Whether it’s Ohio’s The Egyptians with their yearning “Come and Take My Love,” or Andrew Curd's surprisingly tender “Spinning Dizzy” out of Kentucky, Bob bridges these songs with warmth, patience, and deep cultural sensitivity.
He even makes space for public service announcements—about African American health disparities, the inventions of Black minds, and the importance of education. These aren't throwaway ad reads; they are extensions of the show’s mission. Bob knows soul music doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s intertwined with community, justice, creativity, and survival.
In just 90 minutes, Sitting in the Park reclaims and recontextualizes an array of forgotten 45s, turning dusty grooves into living artifacts. Bob Abrahamian’s role as steward of this music goes beyond crate-digging—he’s crafting a people's history of soul, record by record, beat by beat.
Bob Abrahamian 00:00
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. You are now listening to another edition of the Sitting in the Park show. My name is Bob, and I am back this week—sorry to have missed my show last week—but I am back with an all-music show, and it should be really good, because I brought a lot of great records.
If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424—if you have any requests, questions, or comments. I'm going to start off the show with a little bit of a psychedelic feel. This first track is by Billy Guy—people can call me up and correct me if I'm wrong—I think he was in The Coasters. This track is called "Hug One Another."
[music playing – "Hug One Another" by Billy Guy]
Bob Abrahamian 09:18
Amen. Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago. You're listening to the Sitting in the Park show. My name is Bob, and the show happens every Sunday night from 7:30 to 9 PM.
That whole set was a set of psychedelic-sounding soul. Started off in the New York/New Jersey area with Billy Guy, who I think sang with The Coasters—that was "Hug One Another." After that, a record on a Chicago label, though I'm not sure—the group might have been from Detroit. That was The Monticellos with "Plaid Stamps." You can’t quite figure out what plaid stamps are from the song—maybe something illegal? Possibly something to do with selling drugs that the girl is getting money from? If someone knows what the song is really about, they should call me up.
After that, a group from Detroit called The Strides with "Make Your Move." And the last cut was a Four Tops-sounding thing, but it was from New Jersey—that was Joe Moore with "Hang Right In There."
Okay, the show is just getting started. If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424.
This next record is a very rare but really good one from L.A. This is a group called The Fondels. This track is called "Young Love, American Style."
[music playing – "Young Love, American Style" by The Fondels]
Bob Abrahamian 14:53
That was "Young Love, American Style."
This next record I'm going to send out to Dre, who turns 46 tomorrow. This is UST Topaz with "Keep Me Happy."
[music playing – "Keep Me Happy" by UST Topaz]
Bob Abrahamian 25:42
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 PM, and my name is Bob.
In the last set, we started off with an excellent track out of L.A.—that was The Fondels with "Young Love, American Style." After that, the track I sent out to Dre for his birthday tomorrow—that was a track from Buffalo by UST Topaz, called "Keep Me Happy."
Next up was an obscure record that was actually released in Germany—there’s German writing all over the label—but it was by American GIs staying in Germany. Apparently the group was called The Soul Explosion, though they even spelled the name incorrectly on the label. That track was "Love Is the Answer."
The last track in that set was from Memphis—that was Donnie. Fonnie and LaVorne with "It’s a Sweet Love."
Okay, we’ve got a lot more music left—about an hour of the show to go. If you want to call me up, the number is 773-702-8424.
Now it's time for a segment of the show I started doing called the Classic Chicago Dusty. The idea is that I go back and play a record that doesn’t get played on other dusty radio stations. And, because yesterday was the birthday of Bernard Reed—the bass player who played on a bazillion Chicago records, including this one—I’m going to play this next track in his honor.
The singer will hopefully be in the studio next week to talk about his career, although I’ve had bad luck announcing interviews, so we’ll see. Either way, this one’s for Bernard Reed—an excellent bass player who played on so many records. He’s even the bassist on "Soulful Strut."
This track I’m going to play now is Syl Johnson with "Is It Because I’m Black?"
[music playing – "Is It Because I’m Black" by Syl Johnson]
Bob Abrahamian 41:59
Okay, you're tuned to WHPK 88.5 FM in 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.
You might not know this, but the radio station also streams live on the internet at www.whpk.org. I also have a website just for this radio show: www.sittinginthepark.com. On that website, I have audio of all the interviews I've done, and I have music shows from the past three to four years. If you like this show or any of the others I’ve done, you can go there and listen to MP3s. I’ll probably have this show up by midnight tonight.
In that last set, I started off with my Classic Chicago Dusty of the Week—that was Syl Johnson with "Is It Because I’m Black." Hopefully Syl will be in next week talking about his career and a new project he's working on.
After that, I think from Cleveland, was The Mon-Clairs with "Pull Your Coat." Then from L.A., Dan & The Clean Cuts with "Open Up Your Heart and Let Love In." And the last cut was from New Orleans—that was Cynthia Sheeler with "I Love You More Than Words Can Say."
Okay—did you know that African Americans are twice as likely to suffer a stroke as white Americans? But there are steps you can take to help beat the odds. Join the Power to End Stroke. Start by calling 1-888-4-STROKE or go online to strokeassociation.org to learn what you can do.
Also, every day we count on things like the traffic light, the mailbox, and the elevator. But did you know that all these 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: the mind is a terrible thing to waste. To support the UNCF, visit uncf.org or call 1-800-332-UNCF.
Another show you might want to check out is called The Dusty’s Party. That show happens every Thursday night from 9 to midnight. It features a rotating line of DJs playing soul, funk, and even blues and jazz from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. So check that out—The Dusty’s Party, Thursday nights, 9 to midnight.
Okay, getting back to the music again—if you have any requests, questions, or comments, the number here is 773-702-8424.
This next record is from the D.C. area. This is Marcel Joseph, and the track is called "Long Distance Love Affair."
[music playing – "Long Distance Love Affair" by Marcel Joseph]
Bob Abrahamian 58:19
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 PM.
Started off that last set with a track from the D.C. area by a singer named Marcel Joseph—that was "Long Distance Love Affair." After that, a track from Cincinnati—that was Jed & Prince with "Judge and Jury." Then a singer named Kim Morrison with "One in a Million." The last track was also from Ohio—that was The Egyptians with "Come and Take My Love."
Okay, we’ve got half an hour of the show left. If you want to call me up, the number here is 773-702-8424.
This next record is a really nice one from Kentucky. This is a singer named Andrew Curdt, and the track is called "Spinning Dizzy."
[music playing – "Spinning Dizzy" by Andrew Curd]
