Farewell to Napoleon the XIV (Jerry Samuels), Famous For "They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!"

They finally came and took Jerry Samuels away - for real this time. Samuels - whose death was reported today - was known as the one-hit wonder, Napoleon XIV, who became almost famous for recording and releasing the 45 RPM record "They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" It became a #3 hit for Warner Brothers Records in the summer of 1966 and it's perhaps the most bizarre novelty hit to ever climb near the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

This spoken word single was made using only percussion instruments with a siren added for effect and was partially recorded by employing the same studio technique that the late David Seville used to alter the voices of The Chipmunks.

At first the listener believes Samuels is "singing" about a woman who left him, but soon we realize it's about his runaway dog. " I cooked your food , I cleaned your house, and this is how you pay me back for all my kind, unselfish, loving deeds. Hah! Well you just wait, they'll find you yet and when they do they'll put you in the ASPCA, you mangy mutt. And they’re coming to take me away, ha-haaa, they're coming to take me away ho-ho........"  

The b-side, “!aaaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT ot gnimoC er’yehT” is nothing more than the hit played backwards. Even though it's shown on the front of the album cover it's not included on the LP.

The album was created after this comedic "masterpiece" became a hit. When you look at the track listing you can see that all of the songs make fun of mental illness, something that almost certainly could not occur in these current, very politically correct times. Even then, some people were outraged that the song was played on the radio.

“I’m Happy They Took You Away, Ha-Haaa!” by Josephine XV is an answer song that is included on the LP even though it's not listed on the cover. Not surprisingly the album failed to chart.

The single has survived in the memories of kids who grew up in the 1960s mostly because Dr. Demento played it regularly on his syndicated radio show.

Samuels released a followup in 1988, “They’re Coming To Get Me Again, Ha Haaa!” that I never knew existed until I sat down to write this article.

For the last forty years Samuels ran a talent agency in the Philadelphia area.

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