Napoleon XIV

Napoleon XIV
Birth name	Jerry Samuels
Born	May 3, 1938 (1938-05-03) (age 73)
Origin	New York, United States
Genres	Comedy, novelty
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1966–present
Labels	Warner Bros. Records

Napoleon XIV was the pseudonym of the American singer-songwriter and record producer Jerry Samuels (born 3 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. Samuels also wrote The Shelter of Your Arms, a top 20 hit for Sammy Davis, Jr. in 1964.

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 outed him. The record quickly climbed the charts, reaching the Top Ten nationally in just its third week on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at #3 and sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.^[1]

The success of the single inspired 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). A second single of two recordings from that album was relatively unnoticed.

Currently, Samuels works as a singer and agent who books various performers. He works the Delaware Valley area.

Discography

Singles

• 1966 "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" / "!aaaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT" Warner Bros. (5831)
• 1966 "I'm In Love With My Little Red Tricycle" / "Doin' The Napoleon" Warner Bros. (5853)
• 1973 "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haa!" / "!aaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT" Warner Bros. (WB 7726) (re-issue of WB 5831)
• 1990 "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haa!" (1966 recording) / "They're Coming To Get Me Again, Ha-Haaa!" Collectables (3859)

Albums

• 1966 They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! Warner Bros. LP W 1661/WS 1661

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!"

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)

References

1. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 208–209. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. 

• Mad Music Archive
• Answers.com

External links

• Jerry Samuels website
• Myspace tribute

Persondata
Name	Napoleon 14
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	3 May 1938
Place of birth
Date of death
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