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Album cover. RCA Victor (APL1-0712) (1974)
Dolly Parton
Love Is Like a Butterfly
RCA Victor (APL1-0712)
September 16, 1974

Side A
  1. Love Is Like a Butterfly (Dolly Parton) 2;19
  2. If I Cross Your Mind (Porter Wagoner) 2:37
  3. My Eyes Can Only See You (Dolly Parton) 2:45
  4. Take Me Back (Dolly Parton) 2:34
  5. Blackie, Kentucky (Dolly Parton) 3:26
Side B
  1. Gettin' Happy (Dolly Parton) 2:36
  2. You're the One That Taught Me How to Swing (Dolly Parton) 2:05
  3. Highway Headin' South (Porter Wagoner) 2:04
  4. Once Upon a Memory (Dolly Parton) 3:10
  5. Sacred Memories (Dolly Parton) 2:42

Recording

Recording sessions for the album took place on July 16 and 18, 1974, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. "Sacred Memories" was recorded during a September 1, 1972 session for the 1973 album ​My Tennessee Mountain Home.

​Dolly re-recorded "Love Is Like a Butterfly" with Deana Carter for Carter's 2007 album The Chain.
​September 1, 1972
  • Sacred Memories
July 16, 1974
  • Blackie, Kentucky
  • Gettin' Happy
  • My Eyes Can Only See You
  • Take Me Back
  • Love Is Like a Butterfly
  • ​Once Upon a Memory
July 18, 1974
  • Highway Headin' South
  • If I Cross Your Mind
  • You're the One That Taught Me How to Swing

Release and promotion

​The album was released September 16, 1974, on LP, cassette, and 8-track.

Singles

​"Love Is Like a Butterfly" was released as the album's single on August 5, 1974. It debuted at number 87 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated August 31. It peaked at number one on the chart dated November 9, its eleventh week on the chart. The single charted for 17 weeks. It also peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 105 on the BillboardBubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

Critical reception

​In a positive review of the album, Billboard said, "Beginning with her beautiful hit single, Miss Parton sings a variety of songs which demonstrate her stature in this business. It's an outstanding album, full of great songs, most of which she wrote herself, and covering a great many subjects. Some are ballads, some up-tempo, and she handles everything with grace." The review noted "If I Could Cross Your Mind", "Gettin' Happy", and "Once Upon a Memory" as the best tracks on the album. The review concluded with a note to record dealers, saying that the album has "an outstanding cover, which merits prominent display."

Another positive review of the album from Cashbox said, "Whether with Porter or by herself the inimitable songbird Dolly Parton will have an avid following [in] whatever she chooses to do or whomever she chooses to sing with. Her voice is light, airy, and deliciously unique. She has a vocal style and timbre that truly set her apart from the other female contenders. The collection of material is representative and Dolly carries all the tunes off with superb excellence. Included with the title track which is her present charted single is "If I Cross Your Mind" that is a ballad of prime degree exemplifying Dolly's very special warble. The review noted "Take Me Back", "Sacred Memories", and "Blackie, Kentucky" as the best tracks on the album.

AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars.
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Billboard review, September 28, 1974.
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Cashbox, September 14, 1974.

Commercial performance

​The album debuted at number 39 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart dated October 12, 1974. It peaked at number seven on the chart dated November 9, its fifth week on the chart. The album charted for 23 weeks.

Accolades

​"Love Is Like a Butterfly" received the Country Award from BMI in 1975. It also received a Songwriter Achievement Award from Nashville Songwriters Association International in 1975.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the original album liner notes and the 2009 box set, Dolly ("Love Is Like a Butterfly" and "Sacred Memories"), and may not represent the personnel for all tracks.
  • Joe Babcock – background vocals
  • Stu Basore – steel guitar
  • Herb Burnette – art director
  • Jimmy Capps – guitar
  • Jerry Carrigan – drums
  • Betty Cherry – cover illustration
  • Jimmy Colvard – guitar
  • Pete Drake – steel guitar
  • Bobby Dyson – bass
  • Dolores Edgin – background vocals
  • Bob Ferguson – producer
  • Dave Kirby – guitar
  • The Lea Jane Singers – background vocals
  • Larrie Londin – drums
  • Charlie McCoy – harmonica
  • Bruce Osbon – guitar
  • June Page – background vocals
  • Dolly Parton – lead vocals
  • Tom Pick – recording engineer
  • Hope Powell – cover photo
  • Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano
  • Roy Shockley – recording technician
  • Jerry Stembridge (Chip Young) – guitar
  • Jerry Smith – piano
  • Bobby Thompson – guitar
  • Buck Trent – banjo
  • Don Warden – dobro
  • Hurshel Wiginton – background vocals

Releases

FORMAT / TITLE / LABEL & CATALOG # / REGION / RELEASE DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)​​
  • LP / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA Victor APL1-0712 / US & Canada / 09-16-1974
  • 8-track / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA Victor APS1-0712 / US & Canada / 09-16-1974
  • Cassette / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA Victor APK1-0712 / US & Canada / 09-16-1974
  • LP / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA Victor APL1-0712 / Australia / 1974
  • LP / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA Victor APL-1-0712 / South Africa / 1974
  • LP / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA Victor LSA 3195 / UK / 1974
  • LP / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA Victor AHL1-0712 / US / 1976
  • Cassette / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA PK 10712 / UK / 1977
  • LP / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA International VAL1-0305 / Australia & New Zealand / 1980
  • Cassette / Love Is Like a Butterfly / RCA International VAK1 0305 / Australia & New Zealand / 1980
  • Digital download / Love Is Like a Butterfly / Sony Music Entertainment / Various / 03-21-2014
  • Streaming / Love Is Like a Butterfly / Sony Music Entertainment / Various / 03-21-2014
  • LP / Love Is Like a Butterfly / Music for Pleasure MFP 5774 / UK / Unknown
  • Cassette / Love Is Like a Butterfly / Music for Pleasure TC-MFP 5774 / UK / Unknown