Condition: Used
Napoleon XIV - I'm In Love With My Little Red Tricycle - Doin' The Napoleon
Warner Canada
Record is VG+ VG++ ( listen)
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.
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.
Discography
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
Napoleon XIV - Doin' the Napoleon
lol this song is addicting, and his laughing is very.... different!
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