Tull’s latest “hit” single appeals to man’s animal nature more than I might like.

Kronomyth 8.01: Bungholed in the jungle.

To be imperfectly honest, I never liked Bungle in the Jungle all that much. I have the same reaction to Roxy Music’s “Love Is the Drug”-–both songs seemed to appeal to an audience that might have found War Child or Siren collectively daunting. Whenever I hear a radio deejay announce that Jethro Tull or Roxy is coming up on the playlist, I die a little inside when I discover it’s only Bungle or Drug trotted out for the nth time. No such disappointment for Back-Door Angels, however, which offers plenty more music to chew on. I can still recall the intoxicated thrill I felt when the instrumental bridge of “Back-Door Angels” rolled around, taking me on its wild roller-coaster ride of sound. If you haven’t had the pleasure, War Child is well worth hearing; you might even agree with me with that Bungle is its weakest entry. That said, the lyrics for “Bungle in the Jungle” are typically insightful as Ian Anderson draws the parallel between mankind and animals. “Back-Door Angels” has always been more difficult to decode. It would seem to tackle the theological question of whether chance actually exists in a universe where God is said to direct all activities to the end of his glory. Put another way, if a tree falls in a forest, does God “see” it? (Yes.) Does God specifically direct the tree to fall or is it the consequence of a complex chain of events that adhere to a set of pre-determined principles that God has put into place from the beginning of time? (Discuss amongst yourselves.)

Original 7-inch single version

A1. Bungle in the Jungle (Ian Anderson) (3:20)
B1. Back-Door Angels (Ian Anderson) (5:30)

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch single in October 1974 in the UK and Sweden (Chrysalis, CHS 2054), the US (Chrysalis, CRS 2101), Australia (Chrysalis, K-5679), Germany and the Netherlands (Chrysalis, 6155 032), Spain (Chrysalis, 13470-A) and Yugoslavia (Jugoton, SCH-88807) with regional picture sleeve. Reached #12 on the US charts (charted on November 2, 1974 for 16 weeks).