Butterfly (Hollies album) explained

Butterfly
Type:Studio album
Artist:the Hollies
Border:yes
Released:1 November 1967
Recorded:1 August – 6 October 1967
Studio:EMI, London
Genre:
Length:33:14
Label:Parlophone
Producer:Ron Richards
Prev Title:Evolution
Prev Year:1967
Next Title:Hollies' Greatest
Next Year:1968

Butterfly is the seventh UK studio album by British band the Hollies, released in November 1967. It was the final Hollies album to feature Graham Nash before his departure from the group in 1968. The album consisted solely of songs written by the trio of Nash, Allan Clarke, and Tony Hicks, with Nash leading the sessions.[3] It showcased the band's pop-oriented approach to psychedelia.

In the US and Canada, Epic Records released an alternate version of the album as Dear Eloise / King Midas in Reverse (also November 1967), featuring a different track selection/order and alternate artwork. The 1967 single "King Midas in Reverse" was not included on the UK version of the album, but was added to the North American version.

UK Release

As with Evolution (1967), none of the songs on the UK album were selected for single or EP release in the UK. The mono single and stereo CD versions of "Try It" differ greatly in terms of sound effects and vocals. Cash Box said of "Dear Eloise" that it has "pounding orchestrations and a tremendous vocal sound added to the exotic beginning-finish."[4]

In 1978, Parlophone reissued Butterfly with new cover art, and again in 1999. Almost all current CD issues of this album contain the original cover art.

Track listing

Dear Eloise / King Midas in Reverse

Dear Eloise / King Midas in Reverse
Type:Studio album
Artist:the Hollies
Cover:Hollies Dear Eloise.jpg
Released:27 November 1967
Recorded:
  • 1 August – 6 October 1967
  • (except 3 March 1967 for "Leave Me")
Studio:EMI, London
Length:28:09
Label:Epic Records
Producer:Ron Richards
Chronology:The Hollies US
Prev Title:Evolution
Prev Year:1967
Next Title:Words and Music By Bob Dylan
Next Year:1969

The North American version of Butterfly was retitled Dear Eloise / King Midas in Reverse, given a different full-color cover featuring a picture of the group, and released on Epic Records on 27 November 1967. The US and Canadian versions both included the single "King Midas in Reverse" and the UK Evolution track "Leave Me", while deleting the UK Butterfly songs "Pegasus", "Try It" and "Elevated Observations".

Release

In the US, "Dear Eloise" was issued as a single A-side while "Try It" and "Elevated Observations?" were issued as B-sides of the "Jennifer Eccles" and "Do the Best You Can" singles, respectively. In Canada, the single "Dear Eloise" reached No. 36.

Billboard praised the titular singles and added that "the other nine cuts don’t disappoint," summarizing the album as a "wealth of good material, well-handled."[5]

The 1998 US CD reissue of Dear Eloise/King Midas in Reverse by Sundazed presents the original UK Butterfly track line-up with "King Midas in Reverse", "Leave Me" and "Do The Best You Can" added to the track listing.

Track listing

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Book: Goldsmith . Melissa Ursula Dawn . Listen to Classic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre . 2019 . ABC CLIO . 126.
  2. Book: Greenfield, Mike . Gary . Graff . Daniel . Durchholz . 1998 . MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . The Hollies . . Detroit . 551–553.
  3. Book: Goldsmith . Melissa Ursula Dawn . Listen to Classic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre . 2019 . ABC CLIO . 126.
  4. CashBox Record Reviews . 18 November 1967 . 22 . 2022-01-12 . Cash Box.
  5. Album reviews: Wild Honey. Billboard. 23 December 1967. 17. 51. 0006-2510.
  6. Web site: Goldmine. hollies.co.uk. 2019-06-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208105914/http://www.hollies.co.uk/goldmine#the-psychedelic-era. 8 December 2015. dead.
  7. Web site: Everything you ever wanted to know about 'Butterfly' Elevated Observations. elevatedobservations.proboards.com. 2019-06-04.