Cecil Todd - Wake Up America!

Cecil Todd - Wake Up America!

released on LP in 1975 or 1976

Like Jack Van Impe and his album in the last post, America in Prophecy, which was released around the same time as this LP, Cecil Todd is predicting doom and gloom for the USA. Unlike Van Impe, Cecil Todd does not mention anything about prophecy or hope in the end.

The album's cover and back cover says that this was recorded at a patriotic rally. Cecil preached at this rally about America's possible downfall because like 19 other nations or empires that once were mighty, America will fall because of all of the decadence that is taking place. Alcoholism, gambling, wife swapping, prostitution, and other similar enjoyable activities are increasing. Cecil emphatically claims that no one cares that these activities are on the rise. Also, Cecil tries to tie these in with illegal activities which he claims are increasing too. It sounds like the things that are legal to a degree (drinking, gambling, wife swapping) should be classified as illegal in the same group as murder and robbery.

Interestingly on side 1, Cecil does not blame these things on atheists, communists, or secular socialists. He hardly mentions them on side 1. On side 2, Cecil does talk about atheists. He says that they were successful in taking religious indoctrination out of taxpayer-funded public schools. At one point, he goes into a rant because Madalyn Murray O'Hair (perhaps the most notable atheist ever) was not too happy that some astronaut read from the Bible while in outer space. He points out that those commie nations and in general foreign nations won't cause America to fall, the downfall of America is coming from within (which I do seriously agree that the downfall of America will come from within). He thinks some people "want to take God out of America" and is afraid they'll succeed. Cecil never explicitly makes the connection between atheists and those fun things like gambling, drinking, promiscuous sex, but it seems to be implied I suppose.

Because of those immoral activities and atheism, Cecil says that America will lose its freedoms. I'm not sure how American freedom would be preserved by not allowing people to do things that could be interpreted as immoral but still legal or things that preachers don't like people to do. Is that what happens in other countries that do not have freedom where people are not allowed to do certain things or participate in activities because the rulers or governments say so? I'm not exactly getting the impression that Cecil Todd really understands the principles that make America a nice place to live (compared to most other countries) then again he is another guy that thinks that the founding fathers say that America is a Christian only nation.

The end of the album has a performance of Gospel music by The Gospel Lads.



Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Wake Up America! side 1 {16:31}

Side 2

1. Wake Up America! side 2 {16:43}