American. Butterfly operated out of Los Angeles, but its parent corporation, CM Records, was based in Missouri. Butterfly was founded by A. J. Cervantes in 1977; according to 'Billboard' of the 5th of March it was intended to be involved in all aspects of the music industry. The article named Nancy Sain as vice president and general manager. 'BB' of the 11th of February 1978 noted that the label had enjoyed its biggest successes in the field of Disco music but that it was widening its range - only six of its next eighteen intended releases were Disco records. Butterfly was ambitious: 'BB' of the 25th of February observed that it had made licensing arrangements for its products with a total of thirteen overseas firms to that point. None was with a UK company, for some reason. The successes continued. 'BB' of the 5th of August named St. Tropez, Tuxedo Junction and the TSP Orchestra as Butterflies best performers in the Disco market but added that an expansion into the field of centemporary Rock was under way. A pat on the back came in March 1979 when Disco shops voted Butterfly the best label for Disco in terms of service, promotion and product quality, beating the likes of Atlantic.
All was not well, however. 'BB' of the 20th of January 1979 had reported that Butterly and its parent company were being sued over an alleged debt of $11,000, and from then till the end of the year other lawsuits followed: two in May ('BB' 12th); one in June for an alleged $11,000 ('BB', 2nd); one in August for an alleged $60,00 ('BB', 11th); and one in November for an alleged $106,000 ('BB', 17th). In the autumn of the following year two claims totaling around £115,000 were made, including one of $104,000 for pressings ('BB', 6th September 1980), while towards the end of 1981 there came a lesser claim, for $20,000 ('BB', 3rd of October). By that time Butterfly had ceased to issue records - there don't appear to have been any put out after 1980. 'BB' of the 11th of July 1981 reported that Cervantes, formerly with Butterfly, was helping 'in a peripheral manner' with the underwriting of a new label Destiny.
As far as Butterfly's activities in the UK are concerned, it wasn't till 1979 that a possible licensee was found, the appropriately-named Chrysalis Records (q.v.). 'Music Week' of the 27th of January stated that Chrysalis had picked up the rights and that the first product might be out the following month. There seems to have been some kind of a delay, however, and it wasn't till around four months later that 'MW' of the 19th of May was able to say that the deal had been concluded. The first record to be released under the deal with what 'MW' described as 'A leading US Disco label' was to be a single by St. Tropez, 'One More Minute' b/w 'Je T'Aime' (CHS-2332); it was to be released on the 15th of June in both 7" and 12" forms. More singles were planned for release in July, and a St. Tropez album was in the pipeline. The album, a double called 'Belle Du Jour' (CDL-1242), duly appeared, but the only other Butterfly product to come out here was a 12" single by Destination, 'Move On Up' (CHS-12-2409) which hit the shops in March 1980. Manufacture and distribution were by Phonodisc, as they were for Chrysalis at the time. Thanks to Sam Mauger for bringing Butterfly to my attention.
Copyright 2014 Robert Lyons.