Napoleon Murphy Brock (2,684 views)

[Platypus]

Napoleon Murphy Brock (07.06.1945 - )
Associated Acts: Zappa, The Mothers of Invention
Vocal Range: B1 - F♯6

SPOILER: Click to show

{Album Ranges}with Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention:

Roxy & Elsewhere (1974): B1 - F♯5 - C♯6
One Size Fits All (1975): B1 - A4 - A5
Bongo Fury (1975): C2 - B♭4 - B♭5

with Frank Zappa:

Sheik Yerbouti (1979): B1 - A4

Solo:

Balls (2002): E♭2 - B♭4 - B♭5

Significant High Notes:

F♯6 ("Pygmy Twylyte" live New York 31/10/1974, "Room Service" live Helsinki 1974)
F6 ("Advance Romance" live Hamilton Canada 1975, "RDNZL" live Helsinki 1974, "Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station" live Sydney 1976)
E6 ("Andy" live Zappa Plays Zappa, "Get Down" live South Bend 12/05/1974, "How Could I Be Such A Fool?" live Hamburg 1976, "I Ain't Got No Heart" live Sydney 1976, "I’m Not Satisfied" live Providence College 26/04/1975, "Montana" live Erie 12/11/1974)
E♭6 ("Babette" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1, "Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen's Church)" Rehearsal 1973, "Funkin' For the Thrill" live Paris 1979)
D6 ("Dinah-Moe Humm" live South Bend 12/05/1974, "Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me?" live Providence 24/10/1975, "How Could I Be Such A Fool?" live Providence 24/10/1975, "The illinois Enema Bandit" live Hamilton Canada 1975, "Keep It Greasy" live Sydney 1976, "Lonely Little Girl" live Vancouver 1975, "Morning Sun", "Movin' On", "Reach For It" live Paris 1979, "Velvet Sunrise" live Providence 24/10/1975, "Willie The Pimp" live Boston 1975)
C♯6 ("Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen's Church)", "Dog Meat" live St Paul 1974, "I Am for Real" live Paris 1979, "Son of Orange County")
C6 ("Babette" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1, "Cosmik Debris" live Amsterdam 2004, "Florentine Pogen" live Kulttuuritalo 22/09/1974, "Gloria" live 1974, "Sing It" live Paris 1979, "Sunrise")
B5 ("The Booger Man" live St Paul 1974, "Dickie's Such an Asshole" live Chicago 31/10/1973, "Dinah-Moe Humm" live South Bend 12/05/1974, "Movin' On")
B♭5 ("Advance Romance", "I Am for Real" live Paris 1979, "Sweet Sweet Pain", "Uncle Remus" live NYC 2011)
A5 ("Don't Let Go", "Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me?" live The Palace Theater 1984, "The Illinois Enema Bandit" live Vancouver 1975, "Let's Have A Good Time", "More Trouble Every Day", "Morning Sun", "Po-Jama People", "Sunrise", "Tryin' & Cryin'", "Village of the Sun" live Helsinki 1974)
G♯5 ("Babette" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1, "I Am for Real" live Paris 1979, "It Can’t Happen Here" live 08/05/1974, "Party Down", "Steady Freddy", "The Way I Feel")
G5 ("The Booger Man" live Bologna 1974, "The Dog Breath Variations" live South Bend 12/05/1974, "Penguin in Bondage" live St Paul 1974, Vamp Bolic Sound studio 1973)
F♯5 ("Andy" live Zappa Plays Zappa, "Canadian Customs Routine" live Vancouver 1975, "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" live Erie 12/11/1974, "More Trouble Every Day", "Nanook Rubs It" live Erie 12/11/1974, "Tryin' & Cryin'")
F5 ("Gloria" live 1974)
E5 ("Dinah-Moe Humm" live South Bend 12/05/1974, "The Illinois Enema Bandit" live Vancouver 1975, "Let Me Still Be Me", "Montana" live Waterloo 18/11/1973, "Sofa No. 2", "St. Alfanzo's Pancake Breakfast" live Erie 12/11/1974, "Village of the Sun" live Helsinki 1974)
E♭5 ("Dickie's Such an Asshole" live Chicago 31/10/1973, "Hi Mom, I Love You", "The Torture Never Stops" live Hamburg 1976, "Tush Tush Tush" live St Paul 1974)
D5 ("Be In My Video", "Florentine Pogen", "Inca Roads" live Pittsburgh 06/11/1974, "Let Me Still Be Me", "Pygmy Twylyte", "What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?" live Vancouver 1975)
C♯5 ("Any Downers?" live Vancouver 1975)
C5 ("Emperor of the Highway", "Sing It" live Paris 1979, "Somebody For Everybody")
B4 ("Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen's Church)", "Be In My Video", "How Could I Be Such a Fool?" live 08/05/1974, "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" live 08/05/1974, "Room Service" live Helsinki 1974, "Straight from the Heart")
B♭4 ("Advance Romance", "Cheepnis", "Dickie's Such an Asshole" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 3, "Let Me Still Be Me", "Look What You Find", "Ruthie-Ruthie" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1, "Village of the Sun")
A4 ("Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen's Church)", "The Booger Man" live St Paul 1974, "Building a Girl" live Buffalo 1974, "Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy", "Don't Let Go", "Dummy Up", "Every Little Step I Take", "Florentine Pogen", "Funkin' For the Thrill", "How Could I Be Such A Fool?" live Providence 24/10/1975, "I Ain't Got No Heart" live Providence 24/10/1975, "I Have Been in You", "The Illinois Enema Bandit" live Vancouver 1975, "I’m Not Satisfied" live Providence College 26/04/1975, "Inca Roads", "Keep It Greasy" live Sydney 1976, "More Trouble Every Day", "Morning Sun", "Movin' On", "Penguin in Bondage", "Pygmy Twylyte" Live Helsinki 1974, "Room Service" live Helsinki 1974, "Sunrise", "Swallow My Pride" live Vancouver 1975, "Uncle Remus" live Club Panama 2009, "Wowie Zowie" live 08/05/1974)
G♯4 ("Andy" live Zappa Plays Zappa, "Any Downers?" live Vancouver 1975, "Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen's Church)", "Cheepnis", "Dancin' Fool", "Dickie's Such an Asshole" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 3, "Gloria" live 1974, "Father O'Blivion" live Erie 12/11/1974, "Florentine Pogen", "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" live 08/05/1974, "Party Down", "San Ber'dino", "Straight from the Heart", "Sweet Sweet Pain", "The Way I Feel")
G4 ("Advance Romance", "Amnerika", "Babette" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1, "Can't Afford No Shoes", "Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy", "Change In The Weather", "Cheepnis", "Cosmik Debris" live Amsterdam 2004, "Don't Let Go", "Echidna's Arf (of You)", "Emperor of the Highway", "Every Little Step I Take", "Father O'Blivion" live Erie 12/11/1974, "Florentine Pogen", "Games", "Get Down" live South Bend 12/05/1974, "Harry, You’re A Beast" live 08/05/1974, "Hi Mom, I Love You", "How Could I Be Such A Fool?" live Providence 24/10/1975, "I Ain't Got No Heart" live Providence 24/10/1975, "Kraiser Rolls" live Sydney 1976, "Let Me Still Be Me", "Let's Have A Good Time", "Let’s Make The Water Turn Black" live 08/05/1974, "Lonely Little Girl" live Providence 24/10/1975, "Look What You Find", "Montana" live Roxy Theatre 1973, "Movin' On", "Old Sam", "Po-Jama People", "RDNZL" live Helsinki 1974, "Ruthie-Ruthie" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1, "Sing It" live Paris 1979, "St. Alfanzo's Pancake Breakfast" live Erie 12/11/1974, "Stink-foot" live St Paul 1974, "Sweet Sweet Pain", "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" live Vancouver 1975, "The Torture Never Stops" Thing-Fish, "Uncle Remus" live Club Panama 2009, "Velvet Sunrise" live Providence 24/10/1975, "Village of the Sun", "Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station" live Sydney 1976)
F♯4 ("Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy", "Change In The Weather", "Dickie's Such an Asshole" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 3, "Emperor of the Highway", "I Have Been in You", "The Isle Of Waiting", "Let's Have A Good Time", "Pygmy Twylyte", "Room Service" live Helsinki 1974, "San Ber'dino", "Tryin' & Cryin'", "You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here" live 08/05/1974)

Significant Low Notes:

D3 ("Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen's Church)", "Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy", "Cheepnis", "Dummy Up", "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" live 08/05/1974, "The Isle Of Waiting", "Keep It Greasy" live Sydney 1976, "Kraiser Rolls" live Sydney 1976, "Let's Have A Good Time", "Lonely Little Girl" live Vancouver 1975, "Mercy", "Pygmy Twylyte", "Say That You Will", "Sing It" live Paris 1979, "Somebody For Everybody", "Sweet Sweet Pain", "The Torture Never Stops" Thing-Fish, "Village of the Sun", "You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here" live 08/05/1974)
C♯3 ("Montana" live Roxy Theatre 1973, "Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station" live Sydney 1976, "Yeah, We Going")
C3 ("Amnerika", "Bathtub Man" One Shot Deal, "Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy", "Christmas Day, My Favorite Day", "Cosmik Debris" The Return Of The Fat Chicken, "Get Down" live South Bend 12/05/1974, "How Could I Be Such A Fool?" live Providence 24/10/1975, "Keep It Greasy" live Sydney 1976, "Let Me Still Be Me", "Morning Sun", "Old Sam", "Sing It" live Paris 1979, "Somebody For Everybody", "Sunrise", "The Torture Never Stops" Thing-Fish, "Tv Theme", "Velvet Sunrise" live Providence 24/10/1975)
B2 ("Change In The Weather", "Dickie's Such an Asshole" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 3, "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" live 08/05/1974, "I Ain't Got No Heart" live Sydney 1976, "Montana" live Roxy Theatre 1973, "Oh No" live St. Catherine's Church 2022, "Satumaa" live Helsinki 1974, "Son of Orange County", "Straight from the Heart", "Swallow My Pride" live Vancouver 1975, "Village of the Sun")
B♭2 ("Funkin' For the Thrill", "Hi Mom, I Love You", "Let’s Make The Water Turn Black" live 08/05/1974, "Ruthie-Ruthie" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1, "Stink-foot" live St Paul 1974, "Sweet Sweet Pain", "The Torture Never Stops" Thing-Fish)
A2 ("Babette" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1, "Be In My Video", "Christmas Day, My Favorite Day", "Find Her Finer" live Sydney 1976, "Harry, You’re A Beast" live 08/05/1974, "I Have Been in You", "The Idiot Bastard Son" live at The Roxy 1973, "Inca Roads", "Let's Have A Good Time", "Po-Jama People", "Pygmy Twylyte" Live Helsinki 1974, "RDNZL" live Helsinki 1974, "Uncle Remus" live Club Panama 2009, "Yeah, We Going")
G♯2 ("Dancin' Fool", "Debra Kadabra", "Dickie's Such an Asshole" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 3, "Emperor of the Highway", "Funkin' For the Thrill" live Paris 1979, "Liberated Fantasies")
G2 ("Advance Romance", "Babette" live You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1, "Bobby Brown", "Change In The Weather", "Christmas Day, My Favorite Day", "Dog Meat" live St Paul 1974, "Harry, You’re A Beast" live 08/05/1974, "Hi Mom, I Love You", "Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me?" live Vancouver 1975, "I Am for Real", "The Illinois Enema Bandit" live Vancouver 1975, "Inca Roads" live 08/05/1974, "Let Me Still Be Me", "Room Service" live Switzerland 1974, "Somebody For Everybody", "Stink-foot" live St Paul 1974, "Velvet Sunrise" live Providence 24/10/1975, "What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?" live Vancouver 1975, "Wowie Zowie" live 08/05/1974)
F♯2 ("Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy", "Cheepnis", "More Trouble Every Day", "Steady Freddy", "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" The Return Of The Fat Chicken, "Tush Tush Tush" live St Paul 1974, "Wild Love")
F2 ("Advance Romance", "Can't Afford No Shoes", "Dancin' Fool", "Inca Roads" live 08/05/1974, "It Can’t Happen Here" live 08/05/1974, "Johnny Darling" live The Palace Theater 1984, "Sofa No. 2", "Village of the Sun", "Wild Love", "Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station" live Sydney 1976)
E2 ("Andy", "Cheepnis" Bolic Sound studio 1973, "Flakes", "Florentine Pogen", "Wild Love")
E♭2 ("Andy", "Cucamonga", "Hi Mom, I Love You", "The Illinois Enema Bandit" live Vancouver 1975, "Nanook Rubs It", "Stink-foot" live Providence 24/10/1975)
D2 ("Can't Afford No Shoes", "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" live Erie 12/11/1974, "Florentine Pogen", "San Ber'dino", Vamp Bolic Sound studio 1973)
C♯2 ("Dancin' Fool", "Flakes", "San Ber'dino")
C2 ("Bobby Brown", "Cucamonga", "Sofa No. 2", Vamp Bolic Sound studio 1973, "What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?" live Vancouver 1975)
B1 ("Dancin' Fool", "Pygmy Twylyte", "San Ber'dino")

SPOILER: Click to show

{Questionable Notes}

G♯6 ("Pygmy Twylyte" live New York 31/10/1974 ^[5])
C6 ("Florentine Pogen" ^[5])

A1 ("Cucamonga" ^[5])
G♯1 ("Sam With the Showing Scalp Flat Top" ^[3])

.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.

.......................................................
Blue marks falsetto or whistle notes.
Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.[/font]

[Platypus]

Paging dr. kaji for this one. Found this while notewatching some other Zappa singers and I'm struggling to make sense of the octave of this section (as well as the section at 1:43). If this was any other singer it would be be pretty easy for me to write it off as DLR-ism, but this guy has what I can only assume to be legit 6th octave falsetto control. I've left some examples below to demonstrate.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Other examples}



[timestamp 1:02/1:22]

[Baronessa]

Real Springsteen hours.

[Platypus]

Thread remake time.

In terms of real quality singing, this guy is probably the rangiest guy I have a thread for

[Ian]

Jan 5, 2023 17:41:27 GMT Platypus said:

Thread remake time.

In terms of real quality singing, this guy is probably the rangiest guy I have a thread for

Surprisingly, Elvis Costello is pretty close. He is able to sing down to C2 in “The Final Mrs. Curtain” (which I’m not sure why that note is excluded, it doesn’t really sound pitch-shifted to me) and with surprisingly good diction up to G6 in what appears to be whistle register.

[chimmychupa]

There's A1's and C2's in Dirty Love which i'm sure is him

[Platypus]

Napoleon isn't on that album. It's probably pitch-shifted Frank