Bad Manners “Return of the Ugly” 1989. Blue Beat Records. The UK-ska band’s sixth studio LP. This album has been languishing in a stack of records I received from a friend well over a year ago so it’s my first listen, and my first time listening to any Bad Manners; ska is fine but not really my thing. So with that background I can’t really say if the record is considered good ska or mediocre ska but I’m thinking it’s certainly stereotypical ska, down to the number of band members (there are 12 listed in the album credits. Side note: one of our favorite Milwaukee-area concert venues describes their stage for bands contemplating booking thusly: “It’s a pretty good size. Like, ska-friendly. We’ll measure it soon” which always makes me laugh). Songs that are alright on Return of the Ugly include the lead track “Skaville UK” and “Sally Brown” which is a cover, originally by “The Godfather of Ska” Laurel Aitken. (Bad Manners’ other Aitken cover on Return of the Ugly, “Hey Little Girl,” is not quite as good.) Songs that are not alright are the attempts at a cowboy western theme/ska mashup like “Bonanza Ska” which is just silly and not in a good way – it’s a super-silly ska’d up version of “Bonanza” originally by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for the TV show – and “Buffalo Ska” which is a really weird combo of ska, sad trumpet and harmonica with a Ramones-esque delivery. So while this record wasn’t in the “should it stay or should it go” pile, I’m pretty sure it’s a “go” – I’d rather get a couple of Laurel Aitken LP’s.