Poor Butterfly
| "Poor Butterfly" | |
|---|---|
 Original sheet music cover | |
| Songby Sophie Bernard | |
| Published | 1916 |
| Genre | Popular music |
| Composer(s) | Raymond Hubbell |
| Lyricist(s) | John Golden |
"Poor Butterfly"is apopular song.It was inspired byGiacomo Puccini's operaMadame Butterflyand contains a brief musical quote from the Act two duetTutti i fiorin the verse.
The music was written byRaymond Hubbell,the lyrics byJohn L. Golden.The song was published in 1916. It was introduced in theBroadwayshowThe Big Show,which opened in August 1916 at theNew York Hippodrome,and was sung in the show by Sophie Bernard.[1]
The song has become ajazz standard,recorded by many artists.
Recorded versions
[edit]Biggest hit versions in 1917
[edit]The two biggest hit versions in1917were recorded byElsie Baker(using the pseudonymEdna Brown) and by theVictorMilitary Band.[1]
Baker's recording was made on December 15, 1916, and released onVictoras catalog number 18211,[1]with the flip side being a recording of "Alice in Wonderland" by Howard & McDonough.[2]
The Victor Military Band recording was recorded on November 29, 1916, and issued by Victor as catalog number 35605,[1][3]with the flip side "Katinka".
Another version which received a significant amount of popularity[1]was byGrace Kernsrecording under the nameCatherine[4](orKatherine[1])Clark.This version was recorded in November1916and released byColumbia Recordsas catalog number A-2167, with the flip side "Century Girl".[4]
Somewhat less popular, but still noted at the time, were a recording byElizabeth Spencer,released byThomas Edison'srecording companyas a disk, catalog number 50386, and anAmberol cylinder,catalog number 3039,[1]and a recording byPrince's Orchestra[3](orPrince's Band[5]), recorded December1916and released byColumbia Recordsas catalog number A-5930, with the flip side "You and I".[5]
An arrangement for violin and orchestra was recorded byFritz Kreisleron March 1, 1917, and issued onVictoras catalog number 64555.
1954 revival
[edit]The song was revived in the 1950s byThe Hilltoppersfor a top-20 chart hit. Their recording was released byDot Recordsas catalog number 15156, with the flip side "Wrapped up in a Dream". It first reached theBillboard magazineBest Seller chart on April 14, 1954, and lasted 5 weeks on the chart, peaking at #15.[6](Other sources[7]give the first date on the chart as April 24 and the highest position as #12.) The same recording was released inCanadabyQuality Records as catalog number K1235, with the same flip side.[8]
Other recorded versions
[edit] |
- Cannonball Adderleyfrom the albumCannonball Takes Charge(Riverside 1959)
- Frances Aldaon 16 February 1917, issued asVictor64653. Alda also recorded selections from the Puccini opera, including Butterfly's entrance aria and "Un bel di vedremo".
- Julie Andrewsin 1967 for the filmThoroughly Modern Millieand released on the soundtrack album.
- Vikki Carrreleased song in albumDiscovery(1964) as medley "Poor Butterfly / Stay"[9]
- Herman ChittisonTrio (recorded February 2, 1945, released byMusicraft Recordsas catalog number 323, with the flip side "These Foolish Things"[10])
- Arnett Cobband his orchestra (recorded June 14, 1953, released byMercury Recordsas catalog number 70101, with the flip side "Congratulations to Someone"[11])
- Paul Desmondfrom the albumGlad to Be Unhappy(RCA 1963)
- Columbia Saxophone Sextette(recorded January 24, 1917, released byColumbia Recordsas catalog number A-2203, with the flip side "Katinka: Allah's Holiday"[4])
- Hank D'AmicoSextette (released byMGM Recordsas catalog number 10641, with the flip side "If Dreams Come True"[12])
- Anita Darianin 1960 on the self-titled album "Anita Darian"(later titled"East of the Sun"),Kapp RecordsKL-1168
- Guido Deiro(recorded January1917,released byColumbia Recordsas catalog number A-2202, with the flip side "Madame Butterfly"[4])
- Deanna Durbin(recorded October 9, 1941, released byDecca Recordsas catalog number 18297B, with the flip side "Annie Laurie"[13])
- The Ebon-Knights(released1958byStepheny Recordsas catalog number 1817, with the flip side "The Way the Ball Bounces"[14])
- Emerson Symphony Orchestra(recorded January1917,released byEmerson Recordsas catalog number 7123, with the flip side "Shadowland"[15])
- Erroll GarnerTrio (recorded June 28, 1950, released byColumbia Recordsas catalog number 39145, with the flip side "How High the Moon",[16]also released byColumbia Recordsas catalog number 39166, with the flip side "Long Ago (and Far Away)"[16])
- Booker Ervinfrom the albumThe Book Cooks(Bethlehem 1961)
- Benny Goodmanand his orchestra (recorded June1944,released bySilvertone Recordsas catalog number 545, with the flip side "The Sheik";[17]re-recorded October 15, 1946, released byHarmony Recordsas catalog number Ha1061, with the flip side "Cherry"[18])
- Charles Harrison(recorded February1917,released byColumbia Recordsas catalog number A-2206, with the flip side "My Rosary for You"[4])
- Al Hibblerwith Billy Strayhorn's Orchestra (released in 1949 bySunrise Recordsas catalog number 503,[19]also byMiracle Recordsas catalog number M-503,[20]both with the flip side "Tonight I Shall Sleep";[19][20]also released byChess Recordsin 1951 as catalog number 1569, with the flip side "Fat and Forty"[21])
- Al Hirtreleased a version on his 1962 album,Trumpet and Strings[22]and was also featured on his greatest hits album,The Best of Al Hirt[23]
- Ahmad Jamalfrom the albumAt the Pershing, Vol. 2(Argo 1958) (released1960byArgo Recordsas catalog number 5370, with the flip side "Billy Boy"[24])
- Harry Jamesreleased a version in 1981 on his albumFor Listening And Dancing(Reader's DigestRD4A 213)
- Bunk Johnson&Don Ewell,April 1946
- Jack Kane(released1958byCoral Recordsas catalog number 62038, on the Grammy Award nominated albumKane is Able.[25])
- Yusef Lateeffrom the albumThe Fabric of Jazz(Savoy 1959)
- Andy Kirkand Clouds of Joy (released byDecca Recordsas catalog number 1663A, with the flip side "Lover, Come Back to Me";[26]also released1950byCoral Recordsas catalog number 60344, with the flip side "I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)"[27])
- Johnny Longand his orchestra (released bySignature Recordsas catalog number 15196A, with the flip side "Night and Day",[28]also released1952byCoral Recordsas catalog number 60706, with the flip side "Home";[27]re-released by Coral in1954as catalog number 61172, with the flip side "Only Forever"[29])
- Freddie Martinhis orchestra. Released byCapitol Recordscirca 1960.
- Grady Martinand his Slewfoot 5 (released byDecca Recordsas catalog number 28689, with the flip side "Bandera"[30])
- Susannah McCorkleincluded a version on her 1985 albumHow Do You Keep the Music Playing.
- George McMurphyand his orchestra (recorded June 18, 1928, released byColumbia Recordsas catalog number 1498D, with the flip side "Allah's Holiday"[31])
- Eddie "Piano" Miller(released1950byRainbow Recordsas catalog number 90099, with the flip side "I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas",[32]also released1952byQuality Records(Canada) as catalog number K1063, with the flip side "Pagan Love Song"[8])
- Lee Morseand her Bluegrass Boys (recorded January 25, 1928, released byColumbia Recordsas catalog number 1328D, with the flip side "After We Kiss"[31])
- Red Nicholsand his orchestra (vocal: Scrappy Lambert) (recorded March 2, 1928, released byBrunswick Recordsas catalog number 20062A, with the flip side "Can't Yo' Heah Me Callin' Caroline";[33]re-recorded October 2, 1939, released byBluebird Recordsas catalog number 10522B, with the flip side "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody"[34])
- Pathé Dance Orchestra(released byPathé Recordsas catalog number 20150, with the flip side "Home Again"[35])
- The Pied Pipers(released byCapitol Recordsas catalog number 10159, with the flip side "My Melancholy Baby"[36])
- Leo Reismanand his orchestra (recorded April 13, 1941, released byVictor Recordsas catalog number 27435, with the flip side "Limehouse Blues",[37]also as catalog number 27627, with the flip side "April in Paris"[38])
- Rita Reysin 1961 for her live album Jazz Pictures At An Exhibition and in 1979 for her album That Old Feeling.
- Sonny RollinswithJ. J. Johnsonfrom the albumSonny Rollins, Vol. 2(Blue Note 1957)
- Cécile McLorin SalvantA Cappella Version 2015[39]
- Doc Severinsenand theTonight Show Bandincluded a version on their September 16, 1991 album "Once More... With Feeling".
- Sherbo's Castle-by-Sea Orchestra(recorded January1917,released byPathé Recordsas catalog number 20132, with the flip side "Topsy"[35])
- Frank Sinatraand theDuke Ellington Orchestrarecorded in 1967 on the albumFrancis A. & Edward K.
- Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra (recorded January 19, 1917, released byVictor Recordsas catalog number 18246A, with the flip side "Allah's Holiday"[2])
- Willie "The Lion" Smith(recorded December1950,released byCommodore Recordsas catalog number 654, with the flip side "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"[40])
- Dodie Stevens(released in1959byDot Recordsas catalog number 15975 in theUnited States,and byLondon Recordsas catalog number HL-1560 inAustralia,with the flip side "Miss Lonely Hearts"[41]
- Pat Suzukion her album "The Many Sides of Pat Suzuki",released 1957.*Victor Sylvesterand his orchestra (released byDecca Recordsas catalog number 1070, with the flip side "Vienna, City of My Dreams"[42])
- Art Tatum(recorded1945,released byARA Recordsas catalog number 4502, with the flip side "Lover"[43])
- Bobby True Trio(recorded June1947,released byMercury Recordsas catalog number 5073, with the flip side "Why Should I Cry Over You?"[44])
- Sarah Vaughanreleased byMercury Recordsin theUnited Statesas catalog number 71085[11]and inAustraliaas catalog number 45169,[45]both with the flip side "April Give Me One More Day",[11][45]becoming a signature tune for her
- Paul WestonOrchestra (released byCapitol Recordsas catalog number 54-520,[46]also released byCapitol Recordsas catalog number 10130,[36]both with the flip side "Time on My Hands"[36][46])
- Paul Whitemanand his orchestra (recorded February 7, 1928, released byVictor Recordsas catalog number 24078, with the flip side "San"[47])
- Florence Wright(recorded February 11, 1950, released byNational Recordsas catalog number 9105, with the flip side "Imagination"[48][49])
References
[edit]- ^abcdefgGardner, Edward Foote (2000).Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949.St. Paul, Minnesota: Paragon House.ISBN1-55778-789-1.
- ^abVictor Records in the 18000 to 18499 series
- ^abWhitburn, Joel(1999).Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music.Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research.ISBN0-89820-135-7.
- ^abcdeColumbia Records in the A-2000 to A-2499 series
- ^abColumbia Records in the A-5500 to A-5999 series
- ^ Whitburn, Joel(1973).Top Pop Records 1940-1955.Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research.
- ^Lonergan, David (2004-01-28).Hit Records 1950-1975.Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press.ISBN978-0-8108-5129-0.
- ^abQuality Records in the K1001 to K1999 series
- ^Vikki Carr Discography
- ^Musicraft Records in the 201 to 597 series
- ^abcMercury Records in the 70000 to 70499 series
- ^MGM Records in the 10500 to 10999 series
- ^Decca Records in the 18000 to 18499 series
- ^Stepheny Records in the 1801 to 1843 series
- ^Emerson Records in the 700 to 799 and 7100 to 7556 series
- ^abColumbia Records in the 39000 to 39499 series
- ^Silvertone Records listing
- ^Harmony Records in the 1001 to 1087 series
- ^abSunrise Records listing
- ^abMiracle Records listing
- ^Chess Records in the 1475 to 1750 series
- ^Al Hirt,Trumpet and StringsRetrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^Al Hirt,The Best of Al HirtRetrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^Argo Records in the 5251 to 5569 series
- ^Coral Records in the 62000 to 62565 series
- ^Decca Records in the 1500 to 1999 series
- ^abCoral Records in the 60000 to 60999 series
- ^Signature Records in the listed tecords series
- ^Coral Records in the 61000 to 60999 series
- ^Decca Records in the 28500 to 28999 series
- ^abColumbia Records in the 1000D to 1499D series
- ^Rainbow Records listing
- ^Brunswick Records in the 20000 to 20123 series
- ^Bluebird Records in the 10500 to 10999 series
- ^abPathé Records in the 20000 to 20499 series
- ^abcCapitol Records in the 10000 to 10210 series
- ^Victor Records in the 27000 to 27499 series
- ^Victor Records in the 27500 to 27999 series
- ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:"Cecile McLorin Salvant - Poor Butterfly".YouTube.
- ^Commodore Records listing
- ^London Records (Australia) in the HL-1001 to HL-1999 series
- ^Decca Records in the 1000 to 1499 series
- ^ARA Records in the 4501 to 4515 series
- ^Mercury Records in the 5000 to 5497 series
- ^abMercury Records (Australia) in the 45001 to 45492 series
- ^abCapitol Records in the 500 to 999 series
- ^Victor Records in the 24000 to 24499 series
- ^National Records in the 3001 to 25000 series
- ^Another National Records listing
External links
[edit]- Sheet Musicat In Harmony.