The musicians were Bruce Springsteen, Danny Federici, Garry Tallent, Clarence Clemons, and Vini Lopez.

It was used as a demo by manager Mike Appel's Laurel Canyon publishing arm and legally registered as "Fever for the Girl".

In early 1974, Mike Appel, without permission and contrary to the wishes of Columbia Records, sent cassette tapes of “The Fever” to several US progressive rock radio stations, including DJs like Ed Sciaky in Philadelphia, and Kid Leo in Cleveland, all extremely pro-Springsteen, and the immediately began playing it regularly.

In Philadelphia, according to a listener, “the song exploded!” WMMR put it in their regular rotation, and it led the station in phone-in requests.

After a successful interview by KLOL-FM's Ed Beauchamp on March 8, Springsteen was invited back the next day with the E Street Band, for a lengthy afternoon radio performance that included highlights from his first two albums, plus a rendition of "The Fever" (first time he played it in a year).

", Bruce responded with, "it's a weird thing 'The Fever'… that song 'Fever' we did as a demo tape about a year ago… I promise if we'll come back, we'll work it up for you."

[6][7] In late 1975, Steven Van Zandt, feeling bad about leaving his friend John Lyon alone to run the band they created, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, agreed to be their manager, get them a recording contract, and produce an album.

Springsteen, excited by the idea, created special arrangements, including a duet for “You Mean So Much To Me” with Lyon and Ronnie Spector.

[9] The songs were played live on May 30, 1976 at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, New Jersey, at a party thrown by Epic Records, and broadcast by ten stations in the northeast and midwest.