“I Ain't-a Gonna Grieve” by Aimee Semple McPherson 1926

[melvind]

OK, I thought when I transferred the OKeh Crying record I had found the weirdest record ever. Not so, this one, at least to me, is much weirder. I transferred it for two reasons. One, I have way too much time on my hands right now. And two, historically it is interesting that it was ever produced, and on an electrically recorded Columbia.

Aimee Semple McPherson was both adored and hated in her time. She had no lack of controversy in her time as a preacher. Divorces (two), in-fighting among the staff, law suits, failed land deals for her followers, maybe-or-maybe-not kidnapping, and perhaps a suicide though it is said she died of an accidental overdose. Just like some of today's media ministries!

I consider this record weird because the type of ministry she started is the kind of thing that I find distasteful. I am not against anyone's way of worshiping or opinions, but I just think media savvy ministries have tended to be rather shallow and full of fame and fortune seeking. But, that is just me. I imagine there are a million opinions on a recording like this out there. Take a listen and stay with it as long as you can stand. It is at least a good record of 1920s history if nothing else. And, I am not afraid of anyone disagreeing with me. Who knows, maybe I am the only one that finds this a bit distasteful and weird.

“I Ain't-a Gonna Grieve” & “Come Unto Me” by Aimee Semple McPherson 1926

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in HD.)

https://youtu.be/qvqNQDy9pGU

[Wolfe]

My reaction to this record was one of unswerving impassiveness. If I owned this, it would one and done, as in plays that is.

But I hadn't heard Aimee Semple McPherson before, so you could say it was edjumicational. Thanks.

[melvind]

My reaction to this record was one of unswerving impassiveness. If I owned this, it would one and done, as in plays that is.

But I hadn't heard Aimee Semple McPherson before, so you could say it was edjumicational. Thanks.

I agree with you completely. It was painful hearing it multiple times while transferring it and making the video. But, it is what it is. I will file it away and likely never play it again. She was a big thing in Los Angeles for a two or three decades. Also, she was on the radio and had a national following as well. The building she used, Angelus Temple, is still in use today and is considered an historic landmark. Her denomination, Foursquare, is still around and thriving today.

My new favorite word "edjumicational".

[gramophone-georg]

My reaction to this record was one of unswerving impassiveness. If I owned this, it would one and done, as in plays that is.

But I hadn't heard Aimee Semple McPherson before, so you could say it was edjumicational. Thanks.

I agree with you completely. It was painful hearing it multiple times while transferring it and making the video. But, it is what it is. I will file it away and likely never play it again. She was a big thing in Los Angeles for a two or three decades. Also, she was on the radio and had a national following as well. The building she used, Angelus Temple, is still in use today and is considered an historic landmark. Her denomination, Foursquare, is still around and thriving today.

My new favorite word "edjumicational".

Ah, yes. Pure Aimee had an affair with Uncle Miltie, so the story goes. Witness, my chillen, the recorded beginnings of "God, Inc."

[audiophile102]

My grandfather was a member of the four square denomination. When I was a kid, we would turn the radio to McPherson's radio show on Sundays. She had a very odd way of speaking and on TV she looked like a mental patient. It was her eyes and how she was convinced that by laying her hands on the sick, God would heal them. My grand father grew up in the South and attended her tent revivals. He was born in 1900 and he was a sweet, but simple man. When I grew up I understood that my grandfather, (like so many people today) was the victim of a con artist. He went to his grave totally believing that McPherson performed miracles. It was a harmless delusion except that he tried to bring his innocent grandson into the cult. The con artist of today has TV, radio and the internet to reach the marks which there doesn't appear to be a big shortage of in this country. Not so harmless as the rising death toll shows. Thanks for posting the video!

[Joseph Clack]

I think some of you are mistaking Kathryn Kuhlman for Aimee. Aimee did not appear on TV because she was dead. She was only 53 at the time. Far from finding this offensive, I think it is very pleasant "white gospel." Before I heard this I expected "Come Unto Me" to be mildly lascivious. (James Joyce thought it was a dirty record.) Things have changed since then, because I found it mild and pleasant to listen to and not even slightly x-rated. Plus, if you look at any of the photos of her, she wasn't bad, as we used to say.

[JerryVan]

It wouldn't be a "go to" record for me, but I actually enjoyed the "Ain't Gonna Grieve" tune. All of her sorted history aside, the preaching was okay, nothing I found unsettling about it, other than perhaps the "mass media" aspect of it. But then, it's kind of like a sermon for shut-ins I guess, and if that was the intent, and it gave folks solace, then I don't have any weird vibes over it. Again, this is just judging the recording itself, with Aimee's "other" background or ulterior interests aside...

It was interesting. Thanks!

[Damfino59]

She was big tabloid news in 1926:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reported_ ... _McPherson

[melvind]

It wouldn't be a "go to" record for me, but I actually enjoyed the "Ain't Gonna Grieve" tune. All of her sorted history aside, the preaching was okay, nothing I found unsettling about it, other than perhaps the "mass media" aspect of it. But then, it's kind of like a sermon for shut-ins I guess, and if that was the intent, and it gave folks solace, then I don't have any weird vibes over it. Again, this is just judging the recording itself, with Aimee's "other" background or ulterior interests aside...

It was interesting. Thanks!

I just do not think there is any point to her sermoneete. A bunch of nice words said very nicely. But, no substance. Nothing to really help anyone with anything.. Just pretty words that are meant to tug at you heart strings. But, an hour later, what would there be from this little message to hold on to. Not much.

[JerryVan]

It wouldn't be a "go to" record for me, but I actually enjoyed the "Ain't Gonna Grieve" tune. All of her sorted history aside, the preaching was okay, nothing I found unsettling about it, other than perhaps the "mass media" aspect of it. But then, it's kind of like a sermon for shut-ins I guess, and if that was the intent, and it gave folks solace, then I don't have any weird vibes over it. Again, this is just judging the recording itself, with Aimee's "other" background or ulterior interests aside...

It was interesting. Thanks!

I just do not think there is any point to her sermoneete. A bunch of nice words said very nicely. But, no substance. Nothing to really help anyone with anything.. Just pretty words that are meant to tug at you heart strings. But, an hour later, what would there be from this little message to hold on to. Not much.

Yes, quite the politician wasn't she? Like my past boss. He could tell you that you have a terminal disease and you'd walk away feeling pretty good about it... for a while.