Chest Fever
Encyclopedia
"Chest Fever" is a song recorded by The Band
on its 1968 debut, Music from Big Pink
. It is, according to Peter Viney, a historian of the group, “the Big Pink track that has appeared on most subsequent live albums and compilations,” second only to The Weight
.
The music for the piece was written by Robbie Robertson
, guitarist and vocalist. Total authorship is typically credited solely to Robertson, although the lyrics, according to Levon Helm
, were originally improvised by Levon Helm
and Richard Manuel
, telling the story of a man who becomes sick when he is spurned by the woman he loves.
Robertson has since said the lyrics were nonsensical, used only while the instrumental tracks were recorded. "I'm not sure that I know the words to 'Chest Fever'; I'm not even so sure there are words to 'Chest Fever'." He has also stated the entirety of the song does not make sense.
At the Woodstock Festival
in 1969, The Band performed on the final day, between Ten Years After
and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. They opened the set with "Chest Fever".
The song featured a dramatic solo organ intro played by Garth Hudson
. The introduction is based on Bach
's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. In live performances, this solo evolved into an improvisation drawing from numerous musical styles and lasting several minutes. "When Levon Helm has complained about the share out of royalties at this period, this is the song he quotes," states Viney. "His theme is that Garth's contribution was always grossly under-estimated and under-credited. As he says, 'what do you remember about 'Chest Fever' - the lyrics or the organ part?'"
He says the definitive recordings of the song can be found on "Live in Washington," (sic) an Italian bootleg of the group’s 1976 King Biscuit Flower Hour performance, or the version on The Complete Last Waltz.
The song has been covered numerous times by bands including Three Dog Night
and, most recently, the rootsy jam bands Widespread Panic
and Tishamingo. It has also been covered by John Mayer during his Battle Studies tour.
In a review of Endless Highway: The Music of the Band, David Hyland noted that "noodlers Widespread Panic
transform 'Chest Fever' into how it should have sounded at 'The Last Waltz' with full horn section accompaniment if the Band hadn't played their farewell gig like they were coked out of their minds."
The Band
Richard Manuel
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night 1969
Three Dog Night: Live 1988
Captured Live at the Forum/Harmony 2006/1969
Three Dog Night/Suitable for Framing 2004
Wino
Punctuated Equilibrium
2009 (vinyl edition only)
"Chest Fever", All Music website
Viney, Peter, "Chest Fever," 1997, Jan Høiberg’s The Band website http://theband.hiof.no/articles/chest_fever_viney.html
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
on its 1968 debut, Music from Big Pink
Music from Big Pink
Music from Big Pink is the 1968 debut album by rock band The Band. It features the well-known song, "The Weight". The music was composed partly in 'Big Pink', a house shared by Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson in West Saugerties, in upstate New York...
. It is, according to Peter Viney, a historian of the group, “the Big Pink track that has appeared on most subsequent live albums and compilations,” second only to The Weight
The Weight
"The Weight" is a song written by Robbie Robertson. It was released by The Band as Capitol Records single 2269 in 1968, and appeared one week later on the group's debut album Music from Big Pink. The song is listed as #41 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of All Time published in 2004, and...
.
The music for the piece was written by Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
, guitarist and vocalist. Total authorship is typically credited solely to Robertson, although the lyrics, according to Levon Helm
Levon Helm
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm , is an American rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band....
, were originally improvised by Levon Helm
Levon Helm
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm , is an American rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band....
and Richard Manuel
Richard Manuel
Richard George Manuel was a Canadian composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his contributions to and membership in The Band....
, telling the story of a man who becomes sick when he is spurned by the woman he loves.
Robertson has since said the lyrics were nonsensical, used only while the instrumental tracks were recorded. "I'm not sure that I know the words to 'Chest Fever'; I'm not even so sure there are words to 'Chest Fever'." He has also stated the entirety of the song does not make sense.
At the Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
in 1969, The Band performed on the final day, between Ten Years After
Ten Years After
Ten Years After is an English blues-rock band, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Between 1968 and 1973, Ten Years After scored eight Top 40 albums on the UK Albums Chart...
and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. They opened the set with "Chest Fever".
The song featured a dramatic solo organ intro played by Garth Hudson
Garth Hudson
Eric Garth Hudson is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist. As the organist, keyboardist and saxophonist for Canadian-American rock group The Band, he was a principal architect of the group's unique sound...
. The introduction is based on Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. In live performances, this solo evolved into an improvisation drawing from numerous musical styles and lasting several minutes. "When Levon Helm has complained about the share out of royalties at this period, this is the song he quotes," states Viney. "His theme is that Garth's contribution was always grossly under-estimated and under-credited. As he says, 'what do you remember about 'Chest Fever' - the lyrics or the organ part?'"
Later Performances
Viney notes that, despite the death of Richard Manuel later line ups of The Band continued to perform "Chest Fever" with Helm singing lead vocals. It "rapidly became an on-stage showpiece for Garth's organ", and as such it was an essential song. The intro was a improvisation piece called "The Genetic Method".He says the definitive recordings of the song can be found on "Live in Washington," (sic) an Italian bootleg of the group’s 1976 King Biscuit Flower Hour performance, or the version on The Complete Last Waltz.
The song has been covered numerous times by bands including Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
and, most recently, the rootsy jam bands Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
and Tishamingo. It has also been covered by John Mayer during his Battle Studies tour.
In a review of Endless Highway: The Music of the Band, David Hyland noted that "noodlers Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
transform 'Chest Fever' into how it should have sounded at 'The Last Waltz' with full horn section accompaniment if the Band hadn't played their farewell gig like they were coked out of their minds."
The BandThe BandThe Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
- Music from Big PinkMusic from Big PinkMusic from Big Pink is the 1968 debut album by rock band The Band. It features the well-known song, "The Weight". The music was composed partly in 'Big Pink', a house shared by Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson in West Saugerties, in upstate New York...
1968 - Rock of Ages 1972
- Anthology 1978
- Band Gift Set 1989
- To Kingdom Come 1989
- Collection [Castle] 1993
- Across the Great Divide 1994
- Most of the Band 1994
- Greatest Hits 2000
- Live at Loreley 2001
- Rock of Ages [Deluxe Edition] 2001
- Moon Struck One 2002
- Very Best Album Ever 2002
- Rock of Ages [Bonus CD] 2004
- Music from Big Pink [Bonus Tracks] 2003
- Musical History [CD/DVD Box Set] 2005
Richard ManuelRichard ManuelRichard George Manuel was a Canadian composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his contributions to and membership in The Band....
- Whispering Pines: Live at the Getaway [Japan] 2002
- Whispering Pines: Live at the Gateway 1985 2005
Three Dog NightThree Dog NightThree Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
Three Dog Night 1969Three Dog Night: Live 1988
Captured Live at the Forum/Harmony 2006/1969
Three Dog Night/Suitable for Framing 2004
WinoScott WeinrichRobert Scott "Wino" Weinrich is a doom metal guitarist and vocalist. Active since 1976, when he started his first band War Horse, Weinrich is best known for being the frontman and guitarist of the doom metal bands The Obsessed and Saint Vitus...
Punctuated EquilibriumPunctuated Equilibrium (album)
Punctuated Equilibrium is the first solo album by American singer/guitarist Scott "Wino" Weinrich, released in January 2009 on Southern Lord.-Track listing:# "Release Me" 5:52# "Punctuated Equilibrium" 2:46# "The Woman In The Orange Pants" 3:25...
2009 (vinyl edition only)
Sources
"CD Review: Band Tribute Album Lavishes Praise With Little Originality: Record Pays Homage To '60s Rock Legends," David Hyland, Soundbytes, NBC4.com website, February 5, 2007 http://www.nbc4.com/entertainment/10888401/detail.html"Chest Fever", All Music website
Viney, Peter, "Chest Fever," 1997, Jan Høiberg’s The Band website http://theband.hiof.no/articles/chest_fever_viney.html