Fever (Little Willie John song)

"Fever"
Label of US 78 RPM release
Single by Little Willie John
from the album Fever
B-side	"Letter from My Darling"
Released	May 1956
Genre	Rhythm and blues
Length	2:40
Label	King 4935
Songwriter(s)	Eddie Cooley John Davenport
Producer(s)	Henry Glover
Little Willie John singles chronology
"Need Your Love So Bad" (1955) "Fever" (1956) "Do Something for Me" (1956)

"Fever" is a song written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, who used the pseudonym "John Davenport". It was originally recorded by American R&B singer Little Willie John for his debut album, Fever (1956), and released as a single in April of the same year. The song topped the Billboard R&B Best Sellers in the US and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard pop chart.^[1] It was received positively by music critics and included on several lists of the best songs when it was released.

It has been covered by several artists from diverse genres. Peggy Lee's 1958 rendition became the best known version and her signature song. Lee's version contained rewritten lyrics and an altered music arrangement. It was a top-five hit in the UK and Australia in addition to making the top ten in the US and the Netherlands. "Fever" was nominated in three categories at the 1st Annual Grammy Awards in 1959, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Other versions of "Fever" were recorded by Elvis Presley, Boney M., Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bublé, Sylvester, the McCoys, La Lupe and Beyoncé.

Madonna released it as a single from her fifth studio album, Erotica (1992), in March 1993 through Warner Bros. It topped the charts in Finland and the Hot Dance Club Songs in the US in addition to charting in the top 50 in many other countries. Madonna filmed and released a music video directed by Stéphane Sednaoui and performed the song on several television shows as well as her 1993 The Girlie Show World Tour. "Fever" has featured in many films, plays and television shows.