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Why Peggy Lee’s ‘Fever’ Still Smolders
Udiscovermusic ^ | July 24, 2025 | Zenobia Ortis

Posted on 07/25/2025 4:35:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway

A timeless juxtaposition of brazen lust and cool sophistication, ‘Fever’ remains the definitive hit for jazz singer Peggy Lee.

In July of 1958, nearly 20 years into her career, 38-year-old Peggy Lee scored her 48th Billboard hit with “Fever.” Known for her sultry delivery, impeccable timing, and bluesy intonation, Lee had already earned the respect of jazz greats while her commercial hits won her legions of admirers. Versatile and prolific, she has become one of the swing era’s most recognizable voices, famous for such hits as “Why Don’t You Do Right” and “It’s a Good Day,” the latter being one of her many original compositions.

Experimenting with her sound

As the swing era gave way to the rock’n’roll decade, Lee spent much of the 50s experimenting with her sound. She recorded Black Coffee, a landmark jazz-blues album, Sea Shells, a deeply unconventional proto-New-Age meditation, and, in 1955, she starred and sang in the Disney classic Lady And The Tramp. Yet it wasn’t until her smoldering adaptation of “Fever,” that Peggy Lee was able to put an indelible stamp on pop music forever, creating one of the most contagious jazz-pop tunes of all time.

Click to load video “Fever” was originally written by R&B singer Eddie Cooley and pianist Otis Blackwell (under the pen name John Davenport). Blackwell made many contributions to the early rock’n’roll canon, including “All Shook Up,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” and “Great Balls Of Fire,” among others. The two co-wrote “Fever” in 1955 and it was recorded by the young R&B and rock’n’roll star Little Willie John, who was just 18 at the time.

Released on King Records, John’s interpretation was a well-conceived straightforward R&B arrangement featuring foreboding tenor saxophones, a heavy driving beat, and bluesy backing vocals. John’s crooning baritone soars passionately over smooth guitar chords and swinging finger snaps, displaying an unabashedly masculine distillation of passion and lust. John’s recording of “Fever” became one of his biggest hits, reaching No.1 on the R&B charts and No.24 on the pop charts in 1956.

Breathed new life into the R&B classic

Heating up the summer of 1958, Peggy Lee’s cover of “Fever” not only breathed new life into the R&B classic, but revitalized her career. While Lee remained a favorite singer among jazz fans, her swing-era pop vocals had begun to lose relevance among younger audiences. Her subdued yet sensual take on “Fever,” however, spoke directly to a younger crowd while bearing all the wit and sophistication of the coolest jazz records.

Inspired by a slightly more rockabilly version of “Fever,” recorded by Ray Petersen in 1957, Lee eventually heard John’s version and decided to record her own take on the tune that would filter this edgy teen angst through the cool sophistication of a female jazz master at the top of her craft. With hired songwriter Sid Kuller, Lee came up with new lyrics that chronicled lovers through the ages.

Tapping into the rock’n’roll audience Lee insisted on a stripped-down arrangement even when her producer Dave Cavanaugh and conductor Jack Marshall wanted it to be bigger and more complex. Lee was determined to project a cool yet earthy mood using only bass, percussion, finger snaps, and her languorous voice. The finger snaps, sparse arrangement, and satirical storytelling echoed the voice of the Beat Generation. Lee understood this new era and her place in it, and wanted to tap into the burgeoning rock’n’roll audience. She used Beat slang in lyrics such as “Julie, baby, you’re my flame” and “Daddy-o, don’t you dare,” as she swings in a perfect R&B tone over a West Coast “cool school”-inspired arrangement.

During a time when teen rebellion reverberated through wailing guitars and saccharine crooning, Peggy Lee’s “Fever” was a sophisticated showstopper that stood out in the youth market while teeming with innuendo that made parents uncomfortable. A brilliant culmination of experimentation and pop excellence, Lee’s “Fever” was the subversive voice of sexuality under the repressive spirit of the conservative 50s: a signpost for the sexual revolution that was to come.

Her signature work

Peaking at No.8 on Billboard in July 1958, “Fever” became Lee’s most successful song and is often cited as her signature work. It showcases the brilliance of her vocal abilities as well as her talent as a writer and arranger. The song was nominated for Record Of The Year, Best Female Vocal Performance, and Best Arrangement at the first-ever Grammy Awards. While Lee had been the driving creative force behind her version, Jack Marshall was given the nomination. Failing to copyright her new lyrics, Lee’s additions were credited to the original writers, Cooley and Blackwell.

In the years following the success of “Fever,” Peggy Lee continued to write songs and experiment with different covers, imbuing each one with her playful charm, but “Fever” remains Peggy Lee’s defining recording. It’s been featured heavily in film and TV, and has inspired countless interpretations by artists ranging from Elvis Presley to Beyoncé. As the jazz-pop classic approaches its 60th anniversary, it remains a timeless juxtaposition of brazen lust and cool sophistication.


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: 1950s; 50s; fifties; music; peggylee
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To: Mark17

Yes both a TV and a radio station. One of their sports announcers became famous, Ed Schultz.


21 posted on 07/25/2025 7:03:11 PM PDT by Maine Mariner
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To: nickcarraway

I saw Peggy Lee sing “Fever” live as the opening act for Bill Cosby in Los Angeles back in 1969. She also sang “Is that All there Is?”


22 posted on 07/25/2025 7:04:46 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono
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To: Bob434

Link to Peggy Lee “Fever” on Spotify. What a song! Hard to believe it was 67 years ago.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4Ke1CYcm2wYDFlOhziFFjK?si=f1e2cecf568149a6


23 posted on 07/25/2025 7:07:13 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: nickcarraway

Here’s the link to the Little Willie John “Fever” on Spotify. He was good. Never heard of him before this post.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0xyMlC1OYdO3JDl8406AEF?si=8ff46c00a7ae45f8


24 posted on 07/25/2025 7:13:03 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Maine Mariner
Yes both a TV and a radio station. One of their sports announcers became famous, Ed Schultz.

I don’t remember him. The last sports announcer I can remember, was Jim Adelson, of KXJB, Fargo. I joined the USAF in 1967, but I still remember the KXJB TV tower, that crashed in 1968.

25 posted on 07/25/2025 7:24:40 PM PDT by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF ISR pilot. Both bitten by the aviation bug)
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To: Inyo-Mono

That’s so cool! Both shows would’ve been excellent!


26 posted on 07/25/2025 7:26:12 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: nickcarraway

I particularly like “Why Don’t You Do Right”
https://youtu.be/4zRwze8_SGk?t=9


27 posted on 07/25/2025 7:29:09 PM PDT by Bobalu (They have sown the wind, and shall reap the whirlwind)
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To: Fledermaus

Yes, I really like the Elvis version as well.


28 posted on 07/25/2025 9:10:20 PM PDT by TexasKamaAina
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To: Fledermaus
Elvis did a great cover

I beg to differ.

Elvis’s cover of Peggy Lee’s version was uninspired.

29 posted on 07/25/2025 10:09:00 PM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump)
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To: miele man

Bookmark


30 posted on 07/25/2025 11:51:40 PM PDT by miele man
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To: Inyo-Mono
I saw Peggy Lee sing “Fever” live as the opening act for Bill Cosby in Los Angeles back in 1969. She also sang “Is that All there Is?”

A friend, who is a highly acclaimed mastering engineer, gifted me 3 Peggy Lee "dry" tracks copied direct from the studio master tape BEFORE the dreaded reverb was added with studio chatter before the song began.

All 3 have sound quality of a master tape - absolutely incredible & lifelike...especially "Fever"!

Fever
Is that All there Is
Senza Fine

31 posted on 07/26/2025 1:56:33 AM PDT by newfreep ("There is no race problem...just a problem race")
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To: nickcarraway

“As the jazz-pop classic approaches its 60th anniversary, it remains a timeless juxtaposition of brazen lust and cool sophistication.”

Math apparently not being the author’s strong suit!


32 posted on 07/26/2025 3:18:14 AM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Yep one of the classic tunes. Thanks for the link


33 posted on 07/26/2025 4:06:00 AM PDT by Bob434 (Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana)
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To: Fledermaus
Little Willie John’s original version from 1958 is by far the best, IMHO. It’s on the soundtrack to John Sayles’ Lone Star.
34 posted on 07/26/2025 6:14:10 AM PDT by PUGACHEV
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To: Bonemaker

I checked with my sister. She said my dad, did indeed, date Peggy Lee, when her name was Norma Engstrom, and no one knew who she was. She was born the same year as my mother. My sister, in Texas, knew more about it than I did. I don’t know any more about it, than that.


35 posted on 07/29/2025 9:49:30 AM PDT by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF ISR pilot. Both bitten by the aviation bug)
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To: Mark17

Your dad has quite a claim to fame! 😀


36 posted on 07/29/2025 10:17:01 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Bonemaker
Your dad has quite a claim to fame! 😀

Yes, but as I said, I do not know any details about it, like how long did they go out, how did they meet? My dad was from a farm near Langdon and she was from Jamestown, not close. I am not too biased, but my mother was quite a looker too, actually I think better than Peggy Lee. 😆 His brother was Army Air Corps, who I am named after. He died on the infamous Bataan Death March, in the Philippines, in 1942. After the war, he was reburied in Arlington National Cemetery. I was USAF, and my son is currently an active duty commissioned USAF officer. We are an Air Force family. 👍

37 posted on 07/29/2025 10:46:00 AM PDT by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF ISR pilot. Both bitten by the aviation bug)
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To: Mark17

Air Force here too mate! I had a much older friend/coworker who survived Bataan Death March. Still suffered the ill effects, mental and physical, the rest of his life into the 1990’s.


38 posted on 07/29/2025 12:38:20 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Bonemaker

I was never satisfied with the way we enlisted folks were treated. I always felt like a 2nd class citizen, so I told my son, NEVER to do any enlisted time. He didn’t. He got his degree, went to OTS, and got his commission. Now, he flies. 👍


39 posted on 07/29/2025 5:26:47 PM PDT by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF ISR pilot. Both bitten by the aviation bug)
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To: Mark17

Smart move!


40 posted on 07/29/2025 5:43:21 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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