One-hit-wonder created as a studio project by producer Jerry Samuels, using the alias Napoleon XIV. For modern listeners it may seem odd that a guy talk-singing about his growing insanity and incarceration after being ditched by a woman, to an instrumental background only consisting of drums and sirens, could be a world wide hit. But it was back then, reaching #3 on Billboard and high on many other lists. However the follow-up "I'm In Love With My Little Red Tricycle" sunk without a trace and so did this album, produced to cash in further on the first 45's success. What I hear is a theme album with twelve songs doing comedy on various states of mental illness. Far from PC in this more enlightened day and age, but also fun cause it's so fricking odd. A strange mix of more or less regular songs and instrumented reflections, sometimes sounding like an unholy blend between Spike Jones, The Chipmunks and Tiny Tim and sometimes like nothing else. I also get to hear the other part from the title song drama giving her version as Josephine XV - "I'm Happy They Took You Away Ha-Haaa". Maybe not a classic album, but a well done collection of loony tunes with good audio and quite irrestistable if you're into the severely odd. Also originally released in Canada and Downunder. 1996 CD on Rhino (R2-72402) came with this album and nine bonus tracks, including a couple originally recorded for a follow-up album but never released back then. Premiere US had label as shown here and glossy cover with Warner ad inner. (YZÄ*)
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