Fever is a 1956 rhythm and blues ballad written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell (under the pseudonym John Davenport). It was first recorded by Little Willie John for his debut album Fever (1956) and released as a single that year. The song is a moody, minor-key piece built around low sax, guitar and finger snaps, with a sultry vocal that tells of a feverish love affair. It topped the US R&B chart and reached the pop Top 40, selling about a million copies. The best known version is Peggy Lee’s 1958 cover with rewritten lyrics in a torchy lounge style, which became a US Top 10 and UK Top 5 hit and earned three Grammy nominations at the first ceremony in 1959. Fever has since been recorded by many artists including Elvis Presley, Madonna and Beyoncé, with Madonna’s 1993 Erotica rendition and Beyoncé’s 2010 promotional single for the Heat fragrance among notable later versions.
