They're coming to take me away ha-haaa! - Napoleon XIV

Napoleon XIV was the pseudonym of American singer/songwriter and record producer Jerry Samuels. In 1966, he recorded 'They're coming to take me away ha-haaa!'. The single reached no. 1 status in America one week after its release. In the UK, it reached number 4 and in the Netherlands it went to no. 13. Some groups protested the apparent mockery of mental illness. Officially a one hit wonder, Napoleon XIV did record a whole album of songs referring to mental illness, including the reply from his wife: 'I'm happy they took you away, ha-haaa!' and, later, the sequel: 'They're coming to get me again, ha-haaa!' (which sees the singer slipping back into madness after being released from the insane asylum).

I bought my copy of the single during a record fair. To my surprise, this copy was made in Lebanon. A very unusual country for a vinyl single, but the quality is impressive: it's very thick, hard vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 2923

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 30, 1997

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!' / '!aaah-ah ,yawa em ekat ot gnimoc er'yehT'

Download: here