Samantha Fish recorded Chills & Fever in Kansas City with producer Bobby Harlow. The album marked a turn toward 1960s soul and R&B, moving away from her previous blues-rock sound.
The album includes covers of artists such as Jimmy Hughes, Doris Duke, and Tom T. Hall, as well as a collaboration with Halestorm's Lzzy Hale on the song You'll Never Change.
Chills & Fever received positive reviews for its energy and authenticity, and was nominated for the Blues Music Awards in 2018. The promotional tour included dates in Europe and the United States.