Monday, January 26, 2026

Holy Relic

Sometimes there's an interesting story hidden behind a stock cover like the one on this record. I almost missed it but I did a little bit of Google work here before I threw up this post and now I can tell you a bit more of the history tied to this record. The music here is more organ and chime stuff like you've heard here so many times but it's from a church in Ohio called the Akron Baptist Temple. Wikipedia tells us that this was one of the first US megachurches serving more than 15,000 people on a typical Sunday. The building you see on the labels of this record was built in 1949 and was added onto a few times, including after a fire in 1981 that was deemed suspicious. The whole thing was sold off in 2018 and eventually demolished in 2024. Like I said, none of that really has anything to do with the music here, but history is in details like these. This is Mickey Outland And Billie Floyd-Joy To The World-Christmas Chimes From The Akron Baptist Temple (Akron Baptist Temple, Akron, Ohio, 4112N5, Stereo). Enjoy!

1. Joy To The World
2. Silent Night
3. The First Noel
4. Angels From The Realms Of Glory
5. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
6. There's A Song In The Air
7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. I Heard The Bells
9. O Come All Ye Faithful
10. The Birthday Of A King
11. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
12. O Holy Night
13. Away In A Manger
14. Star Of The East

MEGA

Posted by Ernie at 1/26/2026 06:00:00 AM

10 comments:

  1. BusterMonday, January 26, 2026 11:14:00 AM

    That church is not all that far from where I live and I had never heard of it. Interesting place.

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    Replies
    1. ErnieMonday, January 26, 2026 11:20:00 AM

      I feel like there was some other big mega-church down in Akron, too. Can't think of the name of it though.

      Delete
    2. BusterMonday, January 26, 2026 11:52:00 AM

      The Cathedral of Tomorrow in Cuyahoga Falls - Rex Humbard's old church. I used to patronize a Goodwill across the street from it.

      Delete
    3. ErnieMonday, January 26, 2026 12:05:00 PM

      Yes! That's the one! I've been to that Goodwill. :)

      Delete
    4. JonathanMonday, January 26, 2026 9:18:00 PM

      Buster, that is the church, I was thinking of when I saw the name Akron. I grew up listening to one Christmas Album, from Rex Humbard's Cathedral.

      Delete
    5. BusterMonday, January 26, 2026 9:21:00 PM

      Jonathan - I've been there. Even ate lunch there once. Also saw Rex and crew on television.

      Delete
    6. JonathanMonday, January 26, 2026 11:44:00 PM

      This is so neat, Buster :)
      Thank you.

      Delete
    7. ErnieTuesday, January 27, 2026 3:30:00 PM

      Looks like I shared three records by Rex Humbard from his Cathedral of Tomorrow here at the blog a few years ago. I had forgotten about that.

      https://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/search?q=rex+humbard

      Delete
  2. BryanWednesday, February 11, 2026 2:58:00 PM

    Well Ernie, I was surprised to hear that the main instrument here was the piano. The organ was second, and the chimes were added here and there as an added attraction.
    That being said, a nice recording to relax by after I fed 4 crows walnuts, they seems to know me for the walnuts, and then a long transportation travel time.
    My only complaint, which goes back years, I wish some piano players, were lighter with their fingers on the keys.
    Otherwise, it was nice to hear not just an organ and chimes album.

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    Replies
    1. ErnieWednesday, February 11, 2026 4:50:00 PM

      You never know what you're going to get with an organ and chime record, they're all over the place. :)

      Delete

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