Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mariah Carey’s Butterfly with the release of a collector’s edition 12” vinyl picture disc–featuring the album’s iconic original cover photo and a special note from Mariah to her fans-on Friday, October 20. Available for pre-order now: https://Certified.lnk.to/ButterflyPD/amazon
“Butterfly is my favorite album,” says Mariah. “It’s the most personal work I’ve ever done and will always be a defining moment in my career and in my life. I’m so happy to celebrate this anniversary with such a special release! Stay tuned for more surprises!”
Originally released on September 16, 1997 by Columbia Records, Butterfly, Mariah Carey’s sixth studio album, was one of the 1990’s most-avidly-anticipated albums and quickly established itself as both a commercial (RIAA certified 5x Platinum) and artistic success.
The songs and sounds of Butterfly helped shape and define the pop/R&B music and cultural zeitgeist of its era and beyond.
At the time of Butterfly’s release, Mariah Carey was already the biggest-selling female artist of the decade, having sold more than 80 million records since her debut in 1990.
“Honey,” the album’s first single, became an instant hit on multi-format radio while a groundbreaking video for the track — codirected by Mariah Carey and Daniel Pearl and shot by Paul Hunter — rocketed into across-the-board heavy rotation on MTV, VH1, BET, and the Box. When “Honey” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of its release, it became–according to that week’s Billboard Bulletin (September 4, 1997) -”….her third single to open in the top spot and her 12th No. 1 overall, giving her the most chart-toppers of any solo female artist in the rock era. In the history of the Hot 100, only six singles have debuted at No. 1 and Carey owns half of them.”
Butterfly premiered 11 new compositions written by Mariah with some of pop music’s most illustrious collaborators: “Honey” (produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs for Bad Boy Entertainment, Inc., The Ummah, Stevie J., and Mariah Carey); “Butterfly” (produced and arranged by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff); “My All” (produced and arranged by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff); “The Roof” (produced by Poke and Tone for Track Masters Entertainment, and Mariah Carey); “Fourth of July” (produced and arranged by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff); “Breakdown” (produced by Mariah Carey, Stevie J., and Sean “Puffy” Combs for Bad Boy Entertainment, Inc.); “Babydoll” (produced by Mariah Carey and Cory Rooney); “Close My Eyes” (produced and arranged by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff); “Whenever You Call” (produced and arranged by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff); “Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)” (co-produced by Mariah Carey and David Morales for Def Mix Productions); and “Outside” (produced and arranged by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff; co-produced by Cory Rooney).
The 12th track on Butterfly is Mariah’s heart-stopping cover of Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones” (from “Purple Rain”) recorded as a duet with Dru Hill.
Guest artists on Butterfly include Mase & The Lox (on “Honey”) and Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone from Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony (on “Breakdown”).
Mariah Carey – Butterfly – 12” vinyl Picture Disc
Side A
1. Honey
2. Butterfly
3. My All
4. The Roof
5. Fourth of July
6. Breakdown
Side B
1. Babydoll
2. Close My Eyes
3. Whenever You Call
4. Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)
5. The Beautiful Ones
6. Outside
