Post by mrjukebox on Mar 11, 2023 15:31:54 GMT -5
In the summer of 1966,a rather unusual record reached the top forty-The singer was upset by the fact that his pet dog had run away from home-It was titled "They're Coming To Take Me Away,Ha-Ha!"-The artist billed himself on the label as Napoleon XIV-His real name was Jerry Samuels -Two years earlier,Samuels had written a top twenty hit called "The Shelter Of Your Arms" for Sammy Davis Jr-"They're Coming To Take Me Away" got off to a great start-It peaked at # 3 in Billboard & went to # 1 in the rival trade publication Cash Box.
However,the song was deemed offensive by those who worked for mental health organizations and radio station programmers removed the song from their playlists-Over the years,"They're Coming To Take Me Away" has continued to receive regular airplay on Dr.Demento's radio show-Samuels passed away on Friday but no mention was made as to how he died.
However,the song was deemed offensive by those who worked for mental health organizations and radio station programmers removed the song from their playlists-Over the years,"They're Coming To Take Me Away" has continued to receive regular airplay on Dr.Demento's radio show-Samuels passed away on Friday but no mention was made as to how he died.
