1965 HITS ARCHIVE: Fever - McCoys

Fever (Davenport) by The McCoys, conducted by Bassett Hand
Following Little Willie John in 1956 and Peggy Lee in 1958, this third hit version of “Fever” was the McCoys’ follow-up single to their chart-topping “Hang On Sloopy.”
Pop Chart Peaks: Record World 6, Billboard 7, Cash Box 9
THE 1965 HITS ARCHIVE - here in one place, a good-quality library of original-release-version best-sellers and songs which made an impact that were either released or enjoyed a major chunk of their popularity within the calendar year 1965 (some were recorded in 1964).

[@MichaelGushue-tl8xd]

Christmas 1965 for the McCoys and this song.

[@Trombonology]

Terrific side -- the "Sloopy" formula, so effective before, works well here, too, perhaps surprisingly.

[@perverseosmosis9799]

Also, Rick Derringer of "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" fame is the lead singer for The McCoys.

[@NickCC23]

and guitar solo on "Eat It"

[@perverseosmosis9799]

@@NickCC23 Thank you much for the tip. Hurrah internet.

[@mungojerry311]

This version of "Fever" is very heavily influenced by "Hang On Sloopy", having a similar beat and backing instrumentation. Such was par for the course for many follow-up singles in the 1960s. For an egregious example of this, see "Like Columbus Did" by The Reflections.

[@reneleclerc6119]

That's how a lot of One Hit Wonders came to be One Hit Wonders. The follow-up to that one hit would be so similar that it would get little air play.

[@jimmymack8890]

Same thing with the supremes and the Four Tops..another perfect example would be “You’ve lost that loving feeling” and “soul and inspiration” by the Righteous Brothers or “Young girl” and “women women” by Gary Puckett and the union gap. I know sometimes I can’t even tell the difference between “soul and inspiration” and “you’ve lost that loving feeling” and I get them mixed up because although they are not completely identical to eachother they both have that same feeling, the same essence..the same FORMULA

[@robertmalone3525]

It's The Same Old Song by the Four Tops is I Can't Help Myself, Part Two.

[@user-ww7ec2ot4n]

Lyrics: Never know how much I love you Never know how much I care When you put your arms around me I get a fever that’s so hard to bear You give me fever (You give me fever) when you kiss me Fever when you hold me tight (You give me fever) Fever…in the mornin’ Fever all through the night Sun lights up the day time Moon lights up the night I light up when you call my name ‘Cause I know you’re gonna treat me right You give me fever (You give me fever) when you kiss me Fever when you hold me tight (You give me fever) Fever…in the mornin’ Fever all through the night (Wow!) Everybody’s got the fever That is somethin’ you all know Fever isn’t such a new thing Fever started long time ago (You give me fever) Baby, turn on your love light (Yeah, yeah) Let it shine on me (Yeah, yeah) Well, baby, turn on your love light (Yeah, yeah) And let it shine on me (Yeah, yeah) Well, just a little bit higher (Yeah, yeah) And just a little bit brighter, baby (Yeah, yeah) Aawow! You give me fever (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) You give me fever (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) You give me fever (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) You give me fever

[@louishubbard8036]

great cover

[@rslitman]

Co-writer Eddie Cooley isn't credited on this one. He is on the Peggy Lee and Little Willie John records I looked at tonight (the latter is one of your postings). John Davenport was really Otis Blackwell, who wrote a lot of other hits. Two of the coronavirus symptoms are fever and shortness of breath. Guess who wrote "Breathless" by Jerry Lee Lewis, also posted on your channel. That's right, Otis Blackwell.

[@artistmac]

Over the years, there's been a lot of funny business with songwriting credits, where a songwriter's name is listed on the first pressing of a record, which sells tens of thousands, and left off subsequent pressings, which sell in the millions. It slips through because record companies know that unlike them, songwriters don't have lawyers on retainer.

[@ralphseewald4069]

If I remember correctly every song on this album had a Hang on Sloopy sound to it