The Band – "Chest Fever" (1968)

“She’s stoned,” said the Swede

And the moon calf agreed

“Chest Fever” is a hot mess – but hot messes are not unwelcome in the 2 OR 3 LINES “GOLDEN DECADE” ALBUM TRACKS HALL OF FAME.

The track opens with a dramatic organ solo – which is said to have been inspired by Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor – performed by Garth Hudson.  (Unlike the vast majority of rock and jazz organists, Hudson eschewed the Hammond B-3.  He preferred a Lowery organ.) 

Garth Hudson and his Lowery organ

Robbie Robertson gets the songwriting credit for “Chest Fever,” but I’m not sure that it’s really accurate to say that the song’s lyrics were “written.”

Robertson says that the lyrics were improvised in the recording studio because lead singer Richard Manual needed something to sing while the group was rehearsing the song.  He never got around to rewriting the words.

“I’m not sure that I know the words to ‘Chest Fever’,” Robertson later told an interviewer.  “I’m not even so sure there are words to ‘Chest Fever’.”  

Click here to read the lyrics to “Chest Fever.”

Click here to listen to “Chest Fever.”

Click here to buy that recording from Amazon.