THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

468-Peggy Lee-Fever.

1958-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.28. Peggy Lee was the inspiration for the Muppet character ‘Miss Piggy.’ Originally called ‘Miss Piggy Lee,’ the name was shortened to Miss Piggy when the Muppet’s became well known.

Peggy Lee was born Norma Deloris Egstrom, on May 26th, 1920, in Jamestown, North Dakota, United States, she died on January 21st, 2002, after years of poor health, of complications from diabetes and a heart attack, at the age of 81. Peggy Lee who was the seventh of eight children, was a singer, songwriter, and actress whose career spanned seven decades, she wrote over 270 songs, and recorded more than 1,100 masters, earning herself the honorific title ‘Queen of American Pop.’ Peggy Lee began singing professionally on American radio, in North Dakota, in 1936, then in October 1937, the radio personality Ken Kennedy, (1911-1976) of the ‘WDAY’ radio station in Fargo, North Dakota, auditioned her and put her on the air that day, but not before he changed her name to Peggy Lee. As a songwriter Peggy Lee co-wrote ‘Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me’) with her first husband Dave Barbour, (1912-1965) she recorded the song herself, and spent nine weeks at Number 1 on ‘Billboard’s Best Sellers chart’ in 1948. In 1955 with Sonny Burke, (1914-1980) (see also best songs 469) she co-composed all of the original songs for the ‘Disney’ movie ‘Lady and the Tramp.’ Her acting career included starring in the 1952 re-make of ‘The Jazz Singer,’ for which she was nominated for the ‘Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.’ During her career, she appeared in hundreds of variety shows, and several TV movies, and specials.

The discography of Peggy Lee includes 60 Albums released between 1948-1993, and at least 172 singles released between 1941-1992, 24 of those singles were released between 1941-1950, with ‘Benny Goodman (1909-1986) and His Orchestra,’ and several others were also in collaboration with others. In America on the ‘Billboard Best Sellers chart,’ which would later become the ‘Billboard Hot 100’ chart, 47 of her single have reached the top 40, with ‘Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me’) peaking the highest at Number 1 in 1948, while ‘Fever’ reached Number 8 in 1958. In the UK, Peggy Lee has charted within the top 40 on three occasions, with ‘Mr Wonderful,’ (1956) and ‘Fever,’ (1958) both peaking the highest at Number 5.

‘Fever’ was co-written by the American ‘R&B’ singer and songwriter Eddie Cooley, (1933-2020) and Otis Blackwell, (1931-2002) who used the pseudonym John Davenport due to contractual commitments, John Davenport was the name of Blackwell’s stepfather. Blackwell was a influential figure in the development of ‘Rock N’ Roll,’ and an early inspiration to a young Elvis Presley (1935-1977.) Otis Blackwell was born on February 16th, 1931, in Brooklyn, New York, United States, he died on May 6th, 2002, of a heart attack, at the age of 71. Some of the songs written, or co-written by Otis Blackwell include, ‘Don’t Be Cruel,’ (1955-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 2) ‘All Shook Up,’ (1956-Billboard & UK Number 1) and ‘Return to Sender,’ (1962-Billboard Number 2 & UK Number 1) all hits for Presley, he was also the writer of ‘Great Balls of Fire,’ made famous by Jerry Lee Lewis (see also best songs 99.) Otis Blackwell and Elvis Presley never met in person. Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, (1909-1997) asked Blackwell to appear in the Presley movie ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!,’ for which he had written ‘Return to Sender,’ but a superstition about meeting Presley kept him from accepting.

‘Fever’ was first recorded by the American ‘R&B’ singer Little Willie John (1937-1968) in 1956. His version reached Number 24 on Billboard, but made Number 1 on the Billboard ‘R&B chart.’ Little Willie John’s sister was Mabel John, (1930-2022) who has recorded for ‘Tamla Motown,’ and ‘Stax Records,’ she was also a member of The Raelettes, (see also best songs 475) who were Ray Charles backing group. Other significant versions of ‘Fever’ include, the ‘McCoys,’ whose recording made Number 7 on Billboard, the 1993 version by Madonna, which made Number 6 in the UK, and the 1960 recording by Elvis Presley, from his Album ‘Elvis Is Back!,’ whose arrangement is based on the Peggy Lee arrangement.

The Little Willie John original recording of ‘Fever’ is an ‘R&B’ track, but when Peggy Lee recorded it she gave it a complete overhaul. The song was re-written with lyrics she composed herself, these include the verses beginning with ‘Romeo Loved Juliet,’ and ‘Captain Smith and Pocahontas. Lee also significantly rearranged the song from the original by slowing the tempo, and using minimal instrumentation. The bass was played by Joe Mondragon (1920-1987) and the very limited drum set was by Shelly Manne. (1920-1984) As to who provided the famous ‘finger snaps’ it is unsure, with Lee, Manne, the guitarist Howard Roberts, (1929-1992) and the songs producer Dave Cavanaugh (1919-1981) all sited as possibles. Peggy Lee’s rendition of ‘Fever’ has been described as ‘torchy lounge.’ ‘sultry,’ ‘slinky and inimitable,’ with it being best remembered for ‘her playful delivery, charisma and sexuality,’ by various music writers.

‘Now you’ve listened to my story, here’s the point that I have made. Chicks were born to give you fever, be it Fahrenheit or Centigrade, they give you fever.’