Bad Manners - Walking In The Sunshine: The Best Of Bad Manners

Putting it politely: all the Bad Manners you’ll ever need

Often wrongly remembered as one hit wonders (they had eight Top 40 hits) and as just a good-time party band this excellent Bad Manners compilation sets the record straight, grouping together all their hits, plus their more pensive and experimental side. There’s no denying that Bad Manners were a great band for a bash and the first CD here would ensure a good time for all at any social function.

In terms of credibility, the group always suffered when the cool cats of the music press often unfavourably compared them to their younger and hipper 2-Tone musical cousins. Added to this, Bad Manners were signed to the terminally un-hip Magnet label but, despite all this, they played ska in its most unadulterated form with some superb musicianship.

Disc Two exhibits some interesting pieces, as well as some tentative explorations into dub. Despite the over-thetop image of singer Buster Bloodvessel, sensitivity and social comment were well within the group’s grasp, with songs such as Lorraine and Inner London Violence. Cerebral dance music: a special brew indeed.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Music Club Deluxe | MCDLX 085 (2-CD)

Reviewed by Mark Finnigan
<< Back to Issue 353

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