Napoleon XIV
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Napoleon XIV was the pseudonym of American songwriter and record producer Jerry Samuels (born 1938), who achieved one-hit wonder status with the bizarre and controversial Top 5 hit novelty song "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" in 1966.
[edit] Biography
Samuels was born in New York City and became a professional songwriter by the age of 16. He co-wrote songs for Johnnie Ray such as "To Ev'ry Girl, To Ev'ry Boy (The Meaning Of Love)" (1954) and "The Only Girl I'll Ever Love" (1955). In 1956, he released a single himself, "Puppy Love". Samuels continued to work as a songwriter thoughout this period, with numbers recorded by the likes of Ivory Joe Hunter, LaVern Baker, Adam Wade, The Impossibles, Doris Day, and The Chantels. The biggest hit to come out of a Samuels-written song came in early 1964, when Sammy Davis Jr. reached number 17 on the U.S. pop singles chart with "The Shelter of Your Arms". He also tried recording again, this time under the names Jerry Simms or Jerry Sims (not to be confused with a different writer, Jerry Sims, who recorded for Buddy, Big Tyme, or other labels), in 1959 and 1961 (his first try at a novelty record).
Then in 1966, Samuels concocted the bizarre and controversial "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" His nom du novelty Napoleon XIV for this effort was a play on the names of two very famous Frenchmen — the Emperor Napoleon I and King Louis XIV, although some in the public found out the true identity when Cousin Brucie of WABC in New York outed him.
Napoleon XIV continued to release music after "They're Coming To Take Me Away", including an album of the same name (reissued by Rhino in the mid-80's). most of which continued with the mental illness theme (for example, the single "Bats In My Belfry" or the track "Split Level Head," featuring different vocal parts in each stereo speaker). While he did not achieve any further mainstream success, Napoleon XIV has remained a cult favorite to this day.
Samuels still writes songs and presently runs a business that books entertainment primarily for retirement homes.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- 1956 "Puppy Love"/"The Chosen Few" Vik 0197 (as by Jerry Samuels)
- 1959 "Dancing With A Memory"/"Dancing Partners" RCA Victor 7483 (as by Jerry Sims/Simms)
- 1961 "Good Luck Orville!"/"Treasure Supreme" (this B-side written by Jerry Samuels) Dual 501 (as by Jerry Simms)
- 1966 "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"/"!Aaah-aH yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT" Warner Bros. 5831 (as by Napoleon XIV)
- 1966 "I'm In Love With My Little Red Tricycle"/"Doin' The Napoleon" Warner Bros. 5853 (as by Napoleon XIV)
- 1973 reissue of Warner Bros. 5831 as Warner Bros. 7726
[edit] Albums
- 1966 They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa! Warner Bros. LP 1661
- 1985 (reissue of above on Rhino LP 816)
- 1996 The Second Coming Rhino / Wea, Rhino R2 72402
[edit] Songs written by Jerry Samuels and recorded by others
- 1954 "To Ev'ry Girl, To Ev'ry Boy (The Meaning Of Love)" Johnnie Ray - Columbia 4-40252 (Samuels-B. Parker)
- 1955 "The Only Girl I'll Ever Love" Johnnie Ray - Columbia 4-40324 (Samuels-B. Parker-Feiler)
- 1957 "That's Why I Dream" Ivory Joe Hunter - Atlantic 1095 (Samuels-Feiler-Feiler)
- 1957 "Miracles" LaVern Baker - Atlantic 1163 (Samuels-Feiler-Feiler)
- 1960 "Speaking Of Her" Adam Wade - Coed CO-536 (Jerry Samuels)
- 1963 "The Shelter Of Your Arms" Sammy Davis Jr. - Reprise R-0216 (Samuels)
- 1964 "Paint Me A Pretty Picture" the Impossibles - Reprise 0305 (Jerry Samuels) ...also arranged by Samuels
- 1964 "A Whisper Away" Doris Day (Samuels) originally intended for a single release, it went unreleased until 1995 as a bonus track on Columbia CD 481018 2
- 1965 "Courage" Sammy Davis Jr. - Reprise 0416 (Jerry Samuels)
- 1965 "There's No Forgetting You" the Chantels - TCF-Arrawak TCF-123 (S. Parker-J. Samuels)
Note that B. Parker is Barry Parker and S. Parker is Sol Parker, Barry's son. Sol Parker was the actual co-writer on the B. Parker listed sides (according to Jerry).
[edit] Songs Not written by Jerry Samuels
- 1950 "Gimme A Pound O' Ground Round" Ivory Joe Hunter - M-G-M 10733 (Samuels)
Jerry has confirmed this is not him, though some CD sources say otherwise.
Of further note, the 1963 release by Ivory Joe Hunter, "There's No Forgetting You" (Smash 1860), is not the same song as the Samuels same-titled composition as recorded by the Chantels. The Hunter song was written by Jay Piro (Joseph J. Pirozzi).
