When the E Street Band assembled at 914 Sound Studios on August 1, 1974, it was to secure a usable basic track for 'Jungleland', "already earmarked as the centrepiece of the album". The August 1 tape box suggests they cut two takes of 'Jungleland', the second complete. Later that month, David Sancious and drummer Ernest "Boom" Carter gave their notice, replaced by Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg, and a violinist, Suki Lahav, who would make important contributions to Jungleland. In the following months, Jungleland was played live regularly, losing its jazz influences, adding Suki's violin to the introduction, and Bruce making many lyrical modifications.