Bruce Springsteen’s early song ‘The Fever’ became an unexpected underground radio and bootleg favourite despite his own lukewarm feelings towards it. The article highlights the uncertain period before his breakthrough with Born to Run, and how an unauthorised release helped turn an overlooked demo into a frequently requested live number.

Recorded around his 1973 album The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, the track was sent to radio by manager Mike Appel without Springsteen’s permission. Springsteen played it 24 times in 1978 but said it was never a personal favourite, preferring Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ version; it was not officially released until the 1999 compilation 18 Tracks.