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5/14/10 – The “Fever” 7-Way Cat Fight Radio Show

Posted: May 14th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Pop, R&B, Rock n' Roll | Tags: , , , , , | 11 Comments »

Friday Night Cat Fight Radio Show

“Fever”

Little Willie John first recorded “Fever”, a song written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell (as John Davenport) in 1956 for King.  It was a #1 smash on the R&B charts and it even crossed over to #24 on the elusive pop charts.  The tune was so popular that it led to many immediate covers.  In 1957, both Ray Peterson and Earl Grant took a crack at it.  Then in 1958, Peggy Lee put her unique, seductive stamp on it and it rose to #8 on the pop charts and an incredible #5 on the R&B lists.  In 1960, Elvis featured “Fever” on “Elvis Is Back,” his first LP after being discharged from the Army.  Alvin Robinson bubbled under the Hot 100 in 1964 with a great retelling of the song and the McCoys followed up their “Sloopy” success with a top ten version of “Fever” in 1965.  Now, listen to them all and decide which one you truly DIG THE MOST! 

Also on this week’s program, we feature some birthday tributes to Bobby Darin, Troy Shondell and Charlie Gracie.

So listen, VOTE and DIG!

Which One Do You DIG The Most? - "Fever"

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11 Comments on “5/14/10 – The “Fever” 7-Way Cat Fight Radio Show”

  1. 1 Prowlin' With Matt The Cat » Blog Archive » A 7-Way Cat Fight Over “Fever” + More! – 5/14/10 said at 8:57 am on May 14th, 2010:

    […] Click Here To Listen To The Cat Fight Podcast and VOTE! […]

  2. 2 CCK said at 10:13 am on May 14th, 2010:

    Voted for Ray Peterson. But it was a total toss-up for me between him and Alvin Robinson. They both put their whole selves into the song, and what a great song it is! Well done, Matt the Cat!

  3. 3 Sierra said at 11:08 am on May 14th, 2010:

    The king got my vote this time. I almost always give him my vote if he’s in the running. Interesting that Ray Peterson also did Fever; I didn’t know he could do that type of song, as he cries out most of his efforts. Another good show altogether; thanks, MTC.

  4. 4 Virginia said at 2:36 pm on May 14th, 2010:

    I will go with Little Willie John, it was a close call between his version and Alvin Robinson’s. They both put so much feeling into it. I’m afraid I have heard Peggy’s versions so many times that I am burnt out on them. We can’t wait for this week’s edition of the “The Juke in the Back”. It’s a great program Matt, thank you so much.

  5. 5 Yum Yum said at 5:45 pm on May 14th, 2010:

    Peggy Lee Peggy Lee pretty pretty pretty Peggy Lee oh Peggy my Peggy Lee !! Does it for me !! Yum Yum

  6. 6 Nor Cal Dan said at 12:33 am on May 15th, 2010:

    Peggy Lee is my favorite with Little Willie John as a close second. Cudos to Cross Country Kelly (Kitten Kelly) for coming up with the idea. Matt, gotta say I really dig “The Juke in the Back” program. Remindes of the “Harlem” show….one of my favorites. Dan

  7. 7 Paul Alford said at 5:51 am on May 15th, 2010:

    Some great versions of ‘Fever’ but in the end I have to go with Little Willie John. Looking forward to next ‘Juke In The Back’

    Paul

  8. 8 Pinball Wizard said at 12:04 pm on May 15th, 2010:

    IMO Peggy Lee’s version is the best. I have always liked the way the drummer accents the song. But, I must say that just like Virginia, I have heard it way too many times.

    So, my wife & I agree on Earl Grant.

    Really there are no bad versions here. 7 excellent records. Thanks for yet another great show.

  9. 9 giblet76 said at 2:16 pm on May 15th, 2010:

    Tough call between Elvis & Alvin Robinson for me. I love the Peggy Lee version, but as others have said, a tad burned out on it. Elvis put a little twist on it which made it familiar but fresh at the same time… but points for originality have to go to Alvin… love how into it he was, and how different it was… thus he got my vote. Rock on, Alvin.

  10. 10 timevac3 said at 1:47 am on May 16th, 2010:

    I went with Peggy Lee’s version. Great versions all, but Peggy’s extremely spare arrangement and reworking of lyrics are pure genius.

  11. 11 Bruce said at 3:46 pm on May 16th, 2010:

    I’m going with LWJ on this one if for nothing else than his solid connection to my home state of Washigton. (He stabbed a man to death in Seattle after an argument outside an after hours nightclub and then died a few years later under disputed cirumstances in our state penitentiary at Walla Walla (his stay gets a mention the the Dave Alvin song “Blue Wing”). Beyond that he did lay down the difinitive version on which the remaining 6 are based (except maybe the McCoys version – for a great cover done by them check out “Come On, Let’s Go” the Ritchie Valens standard) . Peggy Lee came in a close second, a good example of “less is more”. When she sings “You give me fever” I believe her heart and soul!

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