It first was released as a standalone U.S. single, backed with "Salvation Road", the closing track of Preservation Act 2.

However, it was not released in the U.K. until it was issued as a bonus track on the 1998 CD Velvel edition of Preservation Act 1.

Andrew Hickey wrote in his book, Preservation: The Kinks' Music 1964-1974, that "by starting the CD with a song in the style of ['Demolition']," the album's "structure is ruined.

"[2] Hickey said that the track "for what it is ... this is decent enough - it's a three-chord glam stomper that wouldn't have sounded at all out of place on 70s rock radio, with a catchy guitar riff - but the lyrics are just a giant infodump rather than being particularly clever or moving.

"[1] Cash Box called it "a narrative rocker in the Kinks tradition that has the subtle satire and caustic cynicism that they have become famous for.