Written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, and originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1956, “Fever” is a hit song that managed to top the Billboard R&B Best Sellers in the US, and peak at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been covered by several artists, including Elvis Presley, Madonna, The McCoys, La Lupe, and Beyoncé. But the most notable version is probably that of Peggy Lee.
Peggy Lee’s rendition became the most widely known version of “Fever” and remains the singer’s signature song. Lee’s version contained rewritten lyrics different from the original and an altered music arrangement. It became a top-five hit on the music charts in the UK and Australia, in addition to entering the top ten in the US and the Netherlands.
