"Butterfly" --> 1957 Live Mystery Song ... Solved ?

[drjohncarpenter]

For many years, spring 1957 news reports of Elvis Presley singing an unrecorded tune called "Butterfly" in his live show were written off as a "reporter's mistake."

570403_Winnepeg Free Press p1.JPG

Winnipeg Free Press, April 3, 1957


Surely, Elvis wasn't throwing a single by newcomer rockabilly Charlie Gracie into his performance?

Gracie made a national TV appearance just three weeks before.


..
Charlie Gracie, "Butterfly" ("Ed Sullivan Show," Sunday, March 10, 1957)


Anyway, surely the media misheard Presley, who was really offering up his new single, "All Shook Up," which ends a key line with the rhyming noun "buttercup"?

Well, maybe they didn't.

As early as February 1957, "Butterfly" was getting a strong reaction, earning consecutive-week mentions in Billboard.




Billboard, February 2, 1957




Billboard, February 9, 1957


"Butterfly" stormed up the charts, hitting #1 on April 6.

Billboard Apr 6 1957 p31.JPG

Billboard, April 6, 1957


But ... could Elvis have really decided to sing Gracie's hit tune? Why?

Well, at Presley's Toronto shows on April 2, he threw in a performance of the recorded-but-not-yet-issued "One Night," a storming rock cover of Smiley Lewis' 1956 R&B success, which RCA would release 18 months later.

So Elvis was obviously in a somewhat "loose" frame of mind regarding his live show. The song itself is a easy, breezy rocker that could be picked up by the band and Jordanaires in a heartbeat.

And the Cameo single was on the radio all the time.


..
Charlie Gracie, "Butterfly" (Cameo 105, February 1957)


Perhaps the clincher to this saga was just discovering that "Butterfly" was firmly in the Hill and Range publishers stable.




Bar Biszick Lockwood, Restless Giant (Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 2010)
http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/44bfy9fe9780252035074.html


Jean and Julian Aberbach built Hill and Range Songs, one of music history's most powerful popular music publishing companies.
Elvis shared ownership with the Aberbachs in two music publishing companies.

1957 music trade ads at the time touted the connection.




Billboard, April 27, 1957


All we need now is a concert tape recording to prove beyond all doubt that Elvis sang "Butterfly."

Anyone out there got one?




Elvis on stage in Toronto, April 2, 1957 - First Show


Ironically, guess which song knocked "Butterfly" out of the #1 position?

"All Shook Up."

Billboard Apr 27 1957 p41.JPG

Billboard, April 27, 1957


Enjoy!

[Mister Mike]

I used to have a tape of Elvis singing "Butterfly" but I recorded his version of "Feelings" over it. Sorry.

[TJ]

Nice post. When you think about it, it makes little sense that a reporter would call "All Shook Up" by that name. It's just not where the brain goes when hearing the song.

With Elvis doing so many shows in the 50s and us hearing so few, there must have been some real gems lost for all time. Perhaps we can add "Butterfly" to the list, along with the likes of "Only You."

[drjohncarpenter]

Nice post. When you think about it, it makes little sense that a reporter would call "All Shook Up" by that name. It's just not where the brain goes when hearing the song.

With Elvis doing so many shows in the 50s and us hearing so few, there must have been some real gems lost for all time. Perhaps we can add "Butterfly" to the list, along with the likes of "Only You."

Thanks.

Maybe they're not lost, perhaps they're just waiting to be found.

[Deke Rivers II]

Very interesting Doc...let's hope someone answers the call!

[ekenee]

I don't think it was ever a mystery. I never doubted this story, only because i have heard the song, and
it does sound like an Elvis Presley type song. I can imagine him singing this tune.

Finding a tape will be quite a chore though.

It will probably go down the same history as the "Fools hall of fame" song.

Both songs not released by Elvis.
Both songs only known to have been performed once.
Both songs only to have been performed in Canada.

I do think, "Buttercup" was mistakenly titled for "All shook up" though. That makes sense.

[Rock Legend]

Excellent post, thank you!

[YDKM]

yup again excellent post and references!~

[mrbthebarber]

Well I can sadly add no more regards Elvis performing the great Charlie Gracie's hit ( which also reached no. 12 here in the UK ) but I can add this clip I filmed of Charlie singing "Butterfly" just two months ago! Still performing BRILLIANTLY & a true gent. George Harrison loved him, Paul McCartney recorded one of his tracks ( "Fabulous" I think ) etc etc. Still in great demand at Rock n Roll festivals all over the world & still cutting it!!

..

Enjoy.

[KiwiAlan]

Where is the mystery.

Most fans have known this for years and years

[Steve Morse]

"As early as February 1957, "Buttercup" was getting a strong reaction, earning consecutive-week mentions in Billboard."

Doc, should that word not be "Butterfly", or should not the sentence also include that title ? That's a genuine question, not a criticism, as all the subsequent cuttings seem to relate to the real song.

Steve Morse

[drjohncarpenter]

Yes, "Butterfly" only got typed 8 times in the original post instead of 9.

Hope you got something out of my effort. Thanks.

[KiwiAlan]

Doc, with your very informative Billboard stories could you please post what they were writing in the few weeks after Elvis' death.

In particular comments about sales.

Thank you in advance

[3577]

Doc, with your very informative Billboard stories could you please post what they were writing in the few weeks after Elvis' death.

In particular comments about sales.

Thank you in advance

It's easy. Google books. Everyone can do it.

[Swingin-Little-Guitar-Man]

Nice research Doctor. Thank ya!

[KiwiAlan]

Doc, with your very informative Billboard stories could you please post what they were writing in the few weeks after Elvis' death.

In particular comments about sales.

Thank you in advance

It's easy. Google books. Everyone can do it.

I bet the Doc can't do it!

[hollandgroupc2008]

Very interesting. Thanks. Now only to find a live version! If I had to choose tho, I'd still rather hear Only You. That's like a holy grail for me. Hasn't it been confirmed that one exists?

[Bodie]

I enjoyed reading that and appreciated the Doc posting this, even if some didnt.

Thanks.

[Juan Luis]

I enjoyed reading that and appreciated the Doc posting this, even if some didnt.

Thanks.

+1.

[bajo]

Keep'em coming Doc! I sure like stuff like this! Names like Buddy Knox, Ray Smith, a.o. ring bells since I ruined my brothers record collections by those artists! I actually played them to death! (Ray Smith sure was something special)

[Frankie Teardrop]

I enjoyed reading that and appreciated the Doc posting this, even if some didnt.

Thanks.

+1.

+ 2.

[acmeruya]

Interesting post, Doc. Thanks.

Phil

[KiwiAlan]

I would say it's beyond doubt that there was an intention for Elvis Presley to record Butterfly. There can be no other explanation for Aberbach to acquire publishing for Elvis Presley Music.

I would also suggest that the recording date was likely to at the Hound Dog sessions. Reasoning being that this recording session was to provide singles and unusually only three sides were put down due to the time spent on Hoound Dog.

[drjohncarpenter]

Very interesting. Thanks. Now only to find a live version! If I had to choose tho, I'd still rather hear Only You. That's like a holy grail for me. Hasn't it been confirmed that one exists?

IIRC, the answer to that is yes.

Nice research Doctor. Thank ya!

I enjoyed reading that and appreciated the Doc posting this, even if some didnt.

Thanks.

+1.

+ 2.

Keep'em coming Doc! I sure like stuff like this! Names like Buddy Knox, Ray Smith, a.o. ring bells since I ruined my brothers record collections by those artists! I actually played them to death! (Ray Smith sure was something special)

Interesting post, Doc. Thanks.

Phil

Thank you all for the very kind words.

These topics are created by me to be savored ... and discussed!

I would say it's beyond doubt that there was an intention for Elvis Presley to record Butterfly. There can be no other explanation for Aberbach to acquire publishing for Elvis Presley Music.

I would also suggest that the recording date was likely to at the Hound Dog sessions. Reasoning being that this recording session was to provide singles and unusually only three sides were put down due to the time spent on Hoound Dog.

You are mistaken on both counts.

Charlie Gracie cut "Butterfly" on Dec 30, 1956 at Reco-Art Sound Recording Studios in Philadelphia, under the specific production of Bernie Lowe.

Note that "Butterfly" was written by Lowe, with Kal Mann, and they would score another 1957 #1 with Elvis, and "Teddy Bear."

[KiwiAlan]

KiwiAlan wrote:
I would say it's beyond doubt that there was an intention for Elvis Presley to record Butterfly. There can be no other explanation for Aberbach to acquire publishing for Elvis Presley Music.

I would also suggest that the recording date was likely to at the Hound Dog sessions. Reasoning being that this recording session was to provide singles and unusually only three sides were put down due to the time spent on Hoound Dog.

You are mistaken on both counts.

Charlie Gracie cut "Butterfly" on Dec 30, 1956 at Reco-Art Sound Recording Studios in Philadelphia, under the specific production of Bernie Lowe.

Note that "Butterfly" was written by Lowe, with Kal Mann, and they would score another 1957 #1 with Elvis, and "Teddy Bear."

I fail to see your logic here.

If there was no intention of Elvis recording the number then why would Aberach buy the song and place it under Elvis Presley Music music.

The fact that Grace recorded it in December does not negate it being slated for Elvis at an earlier date.