Covers: They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!

This isn’t really a cover. The B side is the song played backwards. Even the label was printed in reverse. This novelty record was a huge hit in 1966. I was around (and had a copy) but I can’t explain why it was so popular.

Jerry Samuels, who under the name Napoleon XIV recorded one of the 1960s’ strangest and most successful novelty songs, “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!,” has died at 84. https://t.co/2ZffzRb9lM
— NYT Obituaries (@NYTObits) March 19, 2023

Jerry Samuels, the Northeast Philly artist behind the 1966 hit novelty song, ‘They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!’, has died at 84 https://t.co/seOORIlbCT
— The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) March 11, 2023