Poor Butterfly


"Poor Butterfly" is a popular song. It was inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly and contains a brief musical quote from the Act two duet Tutti i fior in the verse.
The music was written by Raymond Hubbell, the lyrics by John L. Golden. The song was published in 1916. It was introduced in the Broadway show The Big Show, which opened in August 1916 at the New York Hippodrome, and was sung in the show by Sophie Bernard.
The song has become a jazz standard, recorded by many artists.

Recorded versions

Biggest hit versions in 1917

The two biggest hit versions in 1917 were recorded by Elsie Baker 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.
The Victor Military Band recording was recorded on November 29, 1916, and issued by Victor as catalog number 35605, with the flip side "Katinka".
Another version which received a significant amount of popularity was by Grace Kerns recording under the name Catherine '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, recorded December 1916 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-5930, with the flip side "You and I".
An arrangement for violin and orchestra was recorded by Fritz Kreisler on March 1, 1917, and issued on Victor as catalog number 64555.

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 #15. The same recording was released in Canada by Quality Records
as catalog number K1235, with the same flip side.

Other recorded versions

  • Cannonball Adderley from the album Cannonball Takes Charge
  • Frances Alda on 16 February 1917, issued as Victor 64653. Alda also recorded selections from the Puccini opera, including Butterfly's entrance aria and "Un bel di vedremo".
  • Julie Andrews in 1967 for the film Thoroughly Modern Millie and released on the soundtrack album.
  • Vikki Carr released song in album Discovery as medley "Poor Butterfly / Stay"
  • Herman Chittison Trio
  • Arnett Cobb and his orchestra
  • Paul Desmond from the album Glad to Be Unhappy
  • Columbia Saxophone Sextette
  • Hank D'Amico Sextette
  • Anita Darian in 1960 on the self-titled album "Anita Darian" , Kapp Records KL-1168
  • Guido Deiro
  • Deanna Durbin
  • The Ebon-Knights
  • Emerson Symphony Orchestra
  • Erroll Garner Trio
  • Booker Ervin from the album The Book Cooks
  • Benny Goodman and his orchestra
  • Charles Harrison
  • Al Hibbler with Billy Strayhorn's Orchestra
  • Al Hirt released a version on his 1962 album, Trumpet and Strings and was also featured on his greatest hits album, The Best of Al Hirt
  • Ahmad Jamal from the album At the Pershing, Vol. 2
  • Harry James released a version in 1981 on his album For Listening And Dancing
  • Bunk Johnson & Don Ewell, April 1946
  • Jack Kane
  • Yusef Lateef from the album The Fabric of Jazz
  • Andy Kirk and Clouds of Joy
  • Johnny Long and his orchestra
  • Freddie Martin his orchestra. Released by Capitol Records circa 1960.
  • Grady Martin and his Slewfoot 5
  • Susannah McCorkle included a version on her 1985 album How Do You Keep the Music Playing.
  • George McMurphy and his orchestra
  • Eddie "Piano" Miller
  • Lee Morse and her Bluegrass Boys
  • Red Nichols and his orchestra
  • Pathé Dance Orchestra
  • The Pied Pipers
  • Leo Reisman and his orchestra
  • Rita Reys in 1961 for her live album Jazz Pictures At An Exhibition and in 1979 for her album That Old Feeling.
  • Sonny Rollins with J. J. Johnson from the album Sonny Rollins, Vol. 2
  • Cécile McLorin Salvant A Cappella Version 2015
  • Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band included a version on their September 16, 1991 album "Once More... With Feeling".
  • Sherbo's Castle-by-Sea Orchestra
  • Frank Sinatra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded in 1967 on the album Francis A. & Edward K.
  • Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra
  • Willie "The Lion" Smith
  • Dodie Stevens
  • Art Tatum
  • Bobby True Trio
  • Sarah Vaughan released by Mercury Records in the United States as catalog number 71085 and in Australia as catalog number 45169, both with the flip side "April Give Me One More Day", becoming a signature tune for her
  • Paul Weston Orchestra
  • Paul Whiteman and his orchestra
  • Florence Wright