However, it was Coe's 1982 album, "The Misfit Kid," that brought him widespread attention and controversy. The album's lead single, "N----r," sparked heated debates and criticism, with many accusing Coe of racism. Coe maintained that the song was a commentary on racism, not a promotion of it.

Major record stores refused to stock these titles. Coe circumvented traditional retail by selling the vinyl records through the back pages of adult entertainment magazines, specifically Easyriders , a prominent motorcycle subculture publication.

In response to the backlash, Coe offered several defenses:

The public rediscovery of these tracks in the digital age severely damaged Coe's mainstream legacy, leading to canceled performances and public denunciations.

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But beneath this successful, mainstream persona lay a far darker and more infamous reputation. For decades, Coe has been a figure of extreme controversy, linked to a collection of underground recordings so explicit and hateful that they have overshadowed his musical achievements for many. At the center of this maelstrom is a song with a title that is intentionally unprintable in mainstream discourse: "Nigger Fucker."

While Coe is respected for his songwriting (having penned hits like "Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)"), the "Underground" material has made him a pariah to many. His mainstream success is often overshadowed by the "outlaw" persona that, in these instances, crossed into territory that many find irredeemable.

Among his discography, the underground releases Nothing Sacred (1978) and Underground Album (1982) stand out. These records were never intended for mainstream radio; they were sold via mail-order in the back of adult magazines and at truck stops. The content was designed to shock, featuring extreme profanity and racial slurs that even for the era were considered beyond the pale of polite society.