Poor Butterfly

Infobox Standard
title = Poor Butterfly
english_title =
comment = Introduced in the Broadway show "The Big Show"


image_size =
caption =
writer =
composer = Raymond Hubbell
lyricist = John Golden
published = 1916
written =
language = English
form =
original_artist = Sophie Bernard
recorded_by = Elsie Baker (using the pseudonym Edna Brown)
Victor Military Band
Grace Kerns
Elizabeth Spencer
Prince's Orchestra (or Prince's Band)
The Hilltoppers
many other artists
(see #Other recorded versions)
performed_by = "Poor Butterfly" is a popular song. It was inspired by Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly".

The music was written by Raymond Hubbell, the lyrics by John Golden. The song was published in 1916. It was introduced in the Broadway show "The Big Show", which opened in August 1916, and was sung in the show by Sophie Bernardcite book
title= Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949
last = Gardner| first = Edward Foote| publisher= Paragon House
location= St. Paul, Minnesota
date= 2000| isbn= 1-55778-789-1 ] .

The song became a pop standard, recorded by many artists.

Recorded versions

Biggest hit versions in 1917

The two biggest hit versions in 1917 were recorded by Elsie Baker (using the pseudonym Edna Brown) and by the Victor Military Band.

Baker's recording was made on December 15, 1916 and released on Victor as catalog number 18211, with the flip side being a recording of "Alice in Wonderland" by Howard & McDonough [http://settlet.fateback.com/vic18000.html Victor Records in the 18000 to 18499 series] ] .

The Victor Military Band recording was issued by Victor as catalog number 35605cite book
title= Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music
last = Whitburn| first = Joel| authorlink = Joel Whitburn| publisher= Record Research
location= Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
date= 1999| isbn= 0-89820-135-7 ] , with the flip side “Katinka.”

Another version which received a significant amount of popularity was by Grace Kerns recording under the name Catherine [http://settlet.fateback.com/COLA2000.htm Columbia Records in the A-2000 to A-2499 series] ] (or Katherine) Clark. This version was recorded in November 1916 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-2167, with the flip side “Century Girl”.

Somewhat less popular, but still noted at the time, were a recording by Elizabeth Spencer, released by Thomas Edison's recording company as a disk, catalog number 50386, and an Amberol cylinder, catalog number 3039, and a recording by Prince's Orchestra (or Prince's Band [http://settlet.fateback.com/COLA5500.htm Columbia Records in the A-5500 to A-5999 series] ] ), recorded December 1916 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-5930, with the flip side “You and I”.

1954 revival

The song was revived in the 1950s by The Hilltoppers for a top-20 chart hit. Their recording was released by Dot Records as catalog number 15156, with the flip side "Wrapped up in a Dream". It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on April 14, 1954 and lasted 5 weeks on the chart, peaking at #15cite book
last = Whitburn
first = Joel
authorlink = Joel Whitburn
title = Top Pop Records 1940-1955
publisher = Record Research
location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
year = 1973 ] . (Other sources [cite book
title=Hit Records 1950-1975
last= Lonergan
first= David
publisher= Scarecrow Press
location=Lanham, Maryland
date=2004-01-28| isbn= 978-0810851290 ] give the first date on the chart as April 24 and the highest position as #12.) The same recording was released in Canada by Quality Records as catalog number K1235, with the same flip side [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/q/quality-ca-k-series.html Quality Records in the K1001 to K1999 series] ] .

Other recorded versions

*Herman Chittison Trio (recorded February 2, 1945, released by Musicraft Records as catalog number 323, with the flip side “These Foolish Things” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Musicraft200.htm Musicraft Records in the 201 to 597 series] ] )
*Arnett Cobb and his orchestra (recorded June 14, 1953, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70101, with the flip side “Congratulations to Someone” [http://settlet.fateback.com/Merc700.htm Mercury Records in the 70000 to 70499 series] ] )
*Columbia Saxophone Sextette (recorded January 24, 1917, released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-2203, with the flip side “Katinka: Allah's Holiday”)
*Hank D'Amico Sextette (released by MGM Records as catalog number 10641, with the flip side “If Dreams Come True” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/MGM10500.htm MGM Records in the 10500 to 10999 series] ] )
*Guido Deiro (recorded January 1917, released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-2202, with the flip side “Madame Butterfly”)
*Deanna Durbin (released by Decca Records as catalog number 18297B, with the flip side “Annie Laurie” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Dec18000.htm Decca Records in the 18000 to 18499 series] ] )
*The Ebon-Knights (released 1958 by Stepheny Records as catalog number 1817, with the flip side "The Way the Ball Bounces" [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/s/stepheny.html Stepheny Records in the 1801 to 1843 series] ] )
*Emerson Symphony Orchestra (recorded January 1917, released by Emerson Records as catalog number 7123, with the flip side “Shadowland” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Emerson700.htm Emerson Records in the 700 to 799 and 7100 to 7556 series] ] )
*Erroll Garner Trio (recorded June 28, 1950, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39145, with the flip side “How High the Moon” [http://settlet.fateback.com/COL39000.htm Columbia Records in the 39000 to 39499 series] ] , also released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39166, with the flip side “Long Ago and Far Away”)
*Benny Goodman and his orchestra (recorded June 1944, released by Silvertone Records as catalog number 545, with the flip side “The Sheik” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/SRC.htm Silvertone Records listing] ] ; re-recorded October 15, 1946, released by Harmony Records as catalog number Ha1061, with the flip side “Cherry” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Harobie.htm Harmony Records in the 1001 to 1087 series] ] )
*Charles Harrison (recorded February 1917, released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-2206, with the flip side “My Rosary for You”)
*Al Hibbler and his orchestra (released by Miracle Records as catalog number M-503 [http://settlet.fateback.com/Miracle.htm Miracle Records listing] ] , also by Sunrise Records as catalog number 503 [http://settlet.fateback.com/SunriseChi.htm Sunrise Records listing] ] , both with the flip side “Tonight I Shall Sleep”; also released by Chess Records as catalog number 1569, with the flip side “Fat and Forty” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Chess.htm Chess Records in the 1475 to 1750 series] ] )
*Ahmad Jamal (released 1960 by Argo Records as catalog number 5370, with the flip side "Billy Boy" [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/a/argo.html Argo Records in the 5251 to 5569 series] ] )
*Jack Kane (released 1958 by Coral Records as catalog number 62038, with the flip side "Some of These Days" [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/c/coral-62000-series-us.html Coral Records in the 62000 to 62565 series] ] )
*Andy Kirk and Clouds of Joy (released by Decca Records as catalog number 1663A, with the flip side “Lover, Come Back to Me” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Dec1500.htm Decca Records in the 1500 to 1999 series] ] ; also released 1950 by Coral Records as catalog number 60344, with the flip side "I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)" [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/c/coral-60000-series-us.html Coral Records in the 60000 to 60999 series] ] )
*Johnny Long and his orchestra (released by Signature Records as catalog number 15196A, with the flip side “Night and Day” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Signiature.htm Signature Records in the listed tecords series] ] , also released 1952 by Coral Records as catalog number 60706, with the flip side "Home"; re-released by Coral in 1954 as catalog number 61172, with the flip side "Only Forever" [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/c/coral-61000-series-us.html Coral Records in the 61000 to 60999 series] ] )
*Grady Martin and his Slewfoot 5 (released by Decca Records as catalog number 28689, with the flip side “Bandera” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Dec28500.htm Decca Records in the 28500 to 28999 series] ] )
*George McMurphy and his orchestra (recorded June 18, 1928, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 1498D, with the flip side “Allah's Holiday” [http://settlet.fateback.com/COL1000D.htm Columbia Records in the 1000D to 1499D series] ] )
*Eddie "Piano" Miller (released 1950 by Rainbow Records as catalog number 90099, with the flip side "I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas" [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/r/rainbow.html Rainbow Records listing] ] , also released 1952 by Quality Records (Canada) as catalog number K1063, with the flip side "Pagan Love Song")
*Lee Morse and her Bluegrass Boys (recorded January 25, 1928, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 1328D, with the flip side “After We Kiss”)
*Red Nichols and his orchestra (vocal: Scrappy Lambert) (recorded March 2, 1928, released by Brunswick Records as catalog number 20062A, with the flip side “Can't Yo' Heah Me Callin' Caroline” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/BRN20000.htm Brunswick Records in the 20000 to 20123 series] ] ; re-recorded October 2, 1939, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10522B, with the flip side “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/BB10500.htm Bluebird Records in the 10500 to 10999 series] ] )
*Pathé Dance Orchestra (released by Pathé Records as catalog number 20150, with the flip side “Home Again” [http://settlet.fateback.com/Pathe20000.htm Pathé Records in the 20000 to 20499 series] ] )
*The Pied Pipers (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 10159, with the flip side “My Melancholy Baby” [http://settlet.fateback.com/Capitol10000.htm Capitol Records in the 10000 to 10210 series] ] )
*Leo Reisman and his orchestra (recorded April 13, 1941, released by Victor Records as catalog number 27435, with the flip side “Limehouse Blues” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/vic27000.html Victor Records in the 27000 to 27499 series] ] , also as catalog number 27627, with the flip side “April in Paris” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/vic27500.html Victor Records in the 27500 to 27999 series] ] )
*Sherbo's Castle-by-Sea Orchestra (recorded January 1917, released by Pathé Records as catalog number 20132, with the flip side “Topsy”)
*Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra (recorded January 19, 1917, released by Victor Records as catalog number 18246A, with the flip side “Allah's Holiday”)
*Willie "The Lion" Smith (recorded December 1950, released by Commodore Records as catalog number 654, with the flip side “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Commodore.htm Commodore Records listing] ] )
*Dodie Stevens (released in 1959 by Dot Records as catalog number 15975 in the United States, and by London Records as catalog number HL-1560 in Australia, with the flip side “Miss Lonely Hearts” [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/l/london-a-oz.html London Records (Australia) in the HL-1001 to HL-1999 series] ]
*Victor Sylvester and his orchestra (released by Decca Records as catalog number 1070, with the flip side “Vienna, City of My Dreams” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Dec1000.htm Decca Records in the 1000 to 1499 series] ] )
*Art Tatum (recorded 1945, released by ARA Records as catalog number 4502, with the flip side “Lover” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/ARA4500.htm ARA Records in the 4501 to 4515 series] ] )
*Bobby True Trio (recorded June 1947, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 5073, with the flip side “Why Should I Cry Over You?” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/Merc050.htm Mercury Records in the 5000 to 5497 series] ] )
*Sarah Vaughan released by Mercury Records in the United States as catalog number 71085 and in Australia as catalog number 45169 [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/m/mercury-45000-series-oz.html Mercury Records (Australia) in the 45001 to 45492 series] ] , both with the flip side “April Give Me One More Day”
*Paul Weston Orchestra (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 54-520 [http://settlet.fateback.com/Capitol500.htm Capitol Records in the 500 to 999 series] ] , also released by Capitol Records as catalog number 10130, both with the flip side “Time on My Hands”)
*Paul Whiteman and his orchestra (recorded February 7, 1928, released by Victor Records as catalog number 24078, with the flip side “San” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/vic24000.html Victor Records in the 24000 to 24499 series] ] )
*Florence Wright (recorded February 11, 1950, released by National Records as catalog number 9105, with the flip side “Imagination” [ [http://settlet.fateback.com/NationalLate.htm National Records in the 3001 to 25000 series] ] [ [http://www.globaldogproductions.info/n/national.html Another National Records listing] ] )
*Frank Sinatra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded in 1967 on the album Francis A. & Edward K.

References