1961 The Complacent Americans LP Civil Defense
  $   71

 


$ 71 Sold For
Mar 4, 2006 Sold Date
Feb 25, 2006 Start Date
$   20 Start price
3   Number Of Bids
  USA Country Of Seller
eBay Auctioned at
 
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Description

The following commentary was found on www.conelrad.com

 

Scholars will debate President Kennedy's impact on American history for ever, but this much is certain: The young Commander-in-Chief's repeated Cold War saber rattling spawned a paranoid Civil Defense fad the likes of which had not been seen before (or since). Thankfully, some remnants of this apocalyptic heyday have survived into the 21st century for our contemporary enjoyment. One such gem is a Civil Defense "scare" album called THE COMPLACENT AMERICANS that simply must be heard to be believed. This LP - with its bright orange mushroom cloud cover and its hyperbolic advisories to sensitive listeners - could well have been produced by that genius of exploitation William Castle. But actually it was recorded under the stately auspices of the Office of Civil Defense, a sub-branch of the U.S. government (later replaced by FEMA). Unlike IF THE BOMB FALLS (a more somber wax cousin), COMPLACENT seeks to grab the listener by the collar and shake him or her out of an idyllic peacetime slumber.

Presented as a kind of Cold War "It's a Wonderful Life," THE COMPLACENT AMERICANS (as personified vocally by Robert Connelly), begins side one with its businessman narrator witnessing an H-Bomb attack on the fictional (and unfortunately named) "Target City." His voice, augmented by dreamy and futuristic sound effects, follows as the sirens and the explosion fade away:

"The H-Bomb! The H-Bomb! The H-Bomb! Flash of brightness. A tremendous roar... And I, the complacent American, thinking that no one would ever dare attack an American city. And I told my friends that nuclear war would never happen... but it did. I always thought I was a good American - patriotic and civic minded. But I was wrong. I failed myself and my country."

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

With the exception of minor wear marks on the jacket itself, there are no rips and the seams are perfect. This clear red album looks flawless as well. It would appear that it has never graced a turntable.  The record itself comes in a paper sleeve and the album will be placed in a plastic sleeve.

 

Payment is due immediately upon the end of the auction via Paypal only please. I will ship via USPS Priority Mail within 48 hours of your payment.


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