Here is a page where we test various ways to embed .mp3 files into a web page. If you're interested in a different audio format, try one of the pages on the left.

Bare Link

First off, we can just put in a bare link. So here's the link to the famous Summertime Blues.

<object> Tag Set

Then, we'll play Summertime Blues, but using an unadorned <object> tag.
Summertime Blues
This plain object works, but it autoplaysunless you add
<param name="autoplay" value="false" /> (or value="0").
Also, it seems, that the alignment is rather borked unless we put some height and width to the object.
But it doesn't work in IE6. Not even when one adds a "src" parameter.

<embed> Tag Set

Ok, now we'll try the <embed> element.

Summertime Blues
So, <embed>, pretty much unadorned save for the autostart="false" requirement works in IE6, whereas <object> does not. Also, html5 will support <embed>, which is to say, it will become un-depricated.

New HTML5 <audio> Tag Set

Ok, now we'll try the <audio> element.

I had to add the attribute controls="controls" to get it to show up in Opera. Still didn't play.
Works in Chrome, but it auto plays. WTF?
Now it's ok in Chrome. The proper attribute is autoplay="autoplay", that is, if you indeed wish it to autoplay. I had put in autoplay="false", which is proper for <object>. But with autoplay="false" missing from the <audio> element, it just loads and works (in Chrome...not Opera). So don't put anything, and it won't autoplay. Yay!

Use someone else's flash player

Lots of folks on the web have written little flash audio players, complete with controls, that you can just paste into your web page and use as is. My example is the Google Reader player.

Once again, here's Summertime Blues:

I didn't get this to work from a locally hosted file (even with fully qualified url). WTF?

Summary

Here's the dope:

Opera
<object>Works fine
<embed>Usually works fine
<audio>Visible control, but does not work
IE6
<object>Does not work
<embed>Does work
<audio>Does not work--no visible control
IE8
<object>Flakey
<embed>Does work
<audio>Does not work
Chrome
<object>Works fine
<embed>Works fine
<audio>Works fine
FireFox
<object>Works fine
<embed>Works fine
<audio>Does not work--no visible control
Safari
<object>Works fine
<embed>Works fine
<audio>Works fine

What's next?

Redo the exercise with some other formats, such as .wav and .ogg, whatever the hell that is. Do I want to hunt up some .aiff as well?