Napoleon XIV
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Napoleon XIV was the pseudonym of American singer-songwriter and record producer Jerry Samuels (born 03 May 1938, New York), who achieved one-hit wonder status with the Top 5 hit novelty song "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" in 1966.
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[edit] Biography
In 1966, Samuels concocted "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" while working at Associated Recording Studios in New York. The public found out his true identity when Cousin Brucie of WABC in New York outed him.
The record quickly climbed the charts, reaching #3 nationally just one week after its release but fell from the charts almost as quickly after stations stopped playing it in the wake of protests from advocacy groups for the mentally ill.
Napoleon XIV continued to release music after the success of his one hit, including a Warner Bros. album of the same name in 1966 (reissued by Rhino in 1985), most of which continued with the mental illness theme (for example: "Bats In My Belfry" and "Split Level Head" which features different vocal parts in each stereo speaker). While he did not achieve further mainstream success, recent cover versions of They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! indicate that Napoleon XIV has remained a cult favorite. Among Samuels' compositions was "The Shelter Of Your Arms," which became a hit for Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuels still writes songs and presently runs a business that books entertainment, primarily for retirement homes.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- 1966 "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" / "!aaaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT" Warner Bros.
- 1966 "I'm In Love With My Little Red Tricycle" / "Doin' The Napoleon" Warner Bros.
- 1973 "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haa!" / "!aaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT" Warner Bros.
[edit] Albums
- 1966 They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa! Warner Bros. LP W 1661/WS 1661
[edit] Side 1
- "I'm In Love With My Little Red Tricycle"
- "Photogenic, Schizophrenic You"
- "Marching Off To Bedlam"
- "Doin' The Napoleon"
- "Let's Cuddle Up In My Security Blanket"
- "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"
[edit] Side 2
- "Bats In My Belfry"
- "Dr. Psyche, The Cut-Rate Head-Shrinker"
- "I Live In A Split Level Head"
- "The Nuts On My Family Tree"
- "The Place Where The Nuts Hunt The Squirrels"
- "I'm Happy They Took You Away, Ha-Haaa!" (by Josephine XV)
- 1985 (reissue of above on Rhino LP 816)
NOTE: The backwards version of the album title track does not appear on either the original or reissue albums, although the backwards title is listed on the front cover.
- 1996 The Second Coming Rhino / WEA/Rhino R2 72402
- "Ode To A Farmer Boy" (New Recording 1995)
- "The Explorer" (previously unreleased, recorded in 1968 for second unissued album, For God's Sake, Stop The Feces)
- "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"
- "I'm In Love With My Little Red Tricycle"
- "Photogenic, Schizophrenic You"
- "Marching Off To Bedlam"
- "Doin' The Napoleon"
- "The Place Where The Nuts Hunt The Squirrels"
- "Let's Cuddle Up In My Security Blanket"
- "Goofin' On The Job" (Recorded in 1968)
- "Bats In My Belfry"
- "Dr. Psyche, The Cut-Rate Head-Shrinker"
- "I Live In A Split Level Head"
- "I'm Happy They Took You Away, Ha-Haaa!" - Josephine XV
- "The Nuts On My Family Tree"
- "I Owe A Lot To Iowa Pot" (New Recording - 1995)
- "Can You Dig It?" (Recorded in 1968)
- "The Song I Wrote For Robert Goulet" (New recording - 1995)
- "They're Coming To Get Me Again, Ha-Haaa!"
- "It May Appear Ridiculous" (New recording - 1995)
- "!aaaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT" (unlisted bonus track)
