Quincy Conserve: Listen to the Band, Epitaph, Tasteful, and ST (1970 to 1975)

Yet another undeservedly forgotten band from the golden age.

From discogs:

Founded in Wellington, New Zealand in 1968 by lead guitarist and vocalist Malcolm Hayman, Quincy Conserve were one of the more popular local bands of their era. Their sound progressed more in the direction of jazz-rock, and they had success with audiences at jazz festivals. They split up in 1976.

Their music is similar to my Madura post, if you recall that one, with the old 60s simplistic jazz-rock style augmented by slight proto-prog but incorporating a little too much blues to be called fusion yet, a little too simple to be considered inventive like the early Chicago albums (1 to 3 when they were still progressively minded).

Predictably the last album is the best one showing a more mature and perfected style with no fear of being original and more inventive.  Consider the oddball track which talks about an earthquake:

Note how the opening riff, usually a repetitive electric guitar instrumental, is accompanied by vocals, an oddity for sure in rock history.  A few more interesting numbers can be found and enjoyed in that last album from 1975.

From the first I was pleasantly surprised by the song called "Everybody has their way" written by the drummer Bruno Lawrence who went on to become an actor apparently.  This song has such a great hook it should've been a hit (was it?) back in the day: