So Tender / Games (Instrumental) [7"]

DESCRIPTION

Sourcing rare records to reissue can involve meticulous research and years of digging — but sometimes, Lady Luck smiles. Mr Bongo may have never unearthed the mysterious Medium Wave Band had it not been for a chance conversation between Gary from Mr Bongo and Wolverhampton-based record dealer Steve Ward. While offering Gary a batch of records, Steve casually mentioned a spare 7" single he thought might be of interest. He didn’t know much about it — and it had never even sold on Discogs. The record itself was sparse in both design and information, seemingly from the Birmingham area. The intrigue was instant.

The A-side, ‘So Tender’, is a smooth, late-night jazz-soul ballad with sultry, soulful female vocals that sounded hauntingly familiar. Flip it over to the B-side, and ‘Games (Instrumental)’ delivers a standout Britfunk/independent UK jazz-funk groove — bass-heavy, dancefloor-friendly, and echoing the sound of early-‘80s labels like Elite. But this 7” wasn’t from a label — it was a private press, self-released by the band.

After some determined digging and email exchanges, the pieces came together. The Medium Wave Band featured:

• Elliot Browne (lead & rhythm guitar)

• Ron Lyseight (rhythm guitar)

• Andrew Proverbs (keyboards)

• Tony Peart (drums)

• Paul Snook (bass)

• Linton Levy (saxophone)

• And, most notably, Jackie Graham on vocals — better known as the iconic Jaki Graham, the powerhouse UK soul singer known for her hits with David Grant and for her cult classic ‘Fire In My Heart’ with Escape From New York.

Influenced by George Benson, Ronnie Laws, Weather Report, Azimuth, and Chick Corea, the band recorded their two tracks in a Birmingham studio near the Botanical Gardens. Only 200 copies of the original 7” were ever pressed, sold mainly through local record shop Summit Records and at their live shows.

Despite the limited pressing, the record earned enthusiastic support from fans and industry heads alike — including Morgan Khan of Street Sounds. It was reviewed by Lindsay Wesker, leading to radio interviews in London. The band went on to play live across the UK, including Ronnie Scott’s, and supported both Shakatak and Weapon of Peace in Birmingham.

Thanks to everyone who helped bring this reissue to life — and for helping uncover a remarkable slice of Britfunk and UK soul history that might otherwise have vanished in time.

TRACKLIST

A Side

1. The Medium Wave Band – So Tender

B Side
2. The Medium Wave Band – Games (Instrumental)