The Band – Chest Fever – 12/31/1983 – San Francisco Civic Auditorium

“Chest Fever” – Song by The Band from the album Music from Big Pink
Released: July 1, 1968
Label: Capitol
Songwriter: Robbie Robertson
Producer: John Simon

The Band – Chest Fever
Recorded Live: 12/31/1983 – San Francisco Civic Auditorium – San Francisco, CA

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.

Starting around 1970, the organ introduction to “Chest Fever” began to be listed as a separate song called “The Genetic Method”, credited solely to Hudson, that precedes “Chest Fever”, and it was included as such on their 1972 live album Rock of Ages.

Personnel:
Rick Danko – bass, acoustic guitar, vocals
Levon Helm – drums, mandolin, harmonica, vocals
Richard Manuel – piano, drums, vocals
Garth Hudson – organ, piano, synthesizer, accordion, saxophones
Earl Cate – electric guitar, background vocals
Ernie Cate – keyboards
Ron Eoff – bass, background vocals
Terry Cagle – drums