Elusive Butterfly

"Elusive Butterfly"
Single by Bob Lind
from the album Don't Be Concerned
B-side "Cheryl's Goin' Home"
(the original A-side)
Released December 1965
Format 7" single
Genre Folk
Length 2:51
Label World Pacific 77808
Writer(s) Bob Lind
Producer(s) Richard Bock
Bob Lind singles chronology
"Wandering"
(1965)
"Elusive Butterfly"
(1965)
"Remember The Rain
(1966)

"Elusive Butterfly" is a popular song written by Bob Lind, released as a single in December 1965,[1] which reached #5 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the adult contemporary chart in the spring of 1966.[2] In Australia, Lind's "Elusive Butterfly" entered the charts on April 10, 1966 and spent three weeks at #2 during July 1966.

In the US "Elusive Butterfly" was originally the B-side of Lind's debut single "Cheryl's Goin' Home," but this was flipped by a DJ on Florida radio station WQAM and this kickstarted the success of "Elusive Butterfly."[3]

The prominent string arrangement on Lind's "Elusive Butterfly" was by Jack Nitzsche, known for his work with Phil Spector. With this song, Bob Lind gave World Pacific Records its one and only big hit. Bob Lind's debut album, Don't Be Concerned, borrowed its title from a line in the song – "Don't be concerned, it will not harm you."

In the song the narrator sees himself as a butterfly hunter. He is looking for romance, but he finds it as elusive as a butterfly.

Rival cover versions

The song was also recorded and released in 1966 in the British Isles by Val Doonican, with both the Lind and Doonican versions reaching a UK chart peak of #5 [4] - Lind's subsequent to Doonican's - in March/April 1966, while in Ireland only Doonican had the major hit with "Elusive Butterfly" his version peaking at #3.

In South Africa a local cover of "Elusive Butterfly" by Judy Page (af) debuted at #20 in the Top 20 chart dated 22 April 1966 a week before the #19 debut of the Bob Lind original: although the Page cover initially retained asendance the Lind original would ultimately be the higher charter rising to its #4 peak on the chart dated 20 May 1966 on which the Page cover held at its #5 peak.

Other charting versions

Jane Morgan released a version on her 1966 album Fresh Flavor and the song reached #9 on the Easy Listening chart.[5]

Carmen McRae released a version as a single in 1968 that reached #35 on the adult contemporary chart.[6]

Other versions

In media

References

External links

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