ðə dᵻfˈɪnɪtˌɪv sˈɛvənpˈiːs lˈaɪnˌʌp fɚðə fˈɜːst ɪŋkɑːɹnˈeɪʃən ʌvðə bˈænd, wɪð ɐ mˈoːɹ dʒˈæzɹˈɑːkˈoːɹiəntᵻd stˈaɪl, ænd wˌɪtʃ ɐpˈɪɹz ɔnðə fˈɜːst fˈoːɹ stˈuːdɪˌoʊ ˈælbəmz, æz wˈɛl æz ɐ lˈaɪv ɹᵻkˈoːɹdɪŋ, wʌz dʒˈeɪ. dˈʌbəljˌuː. hˈɑːdkɪnsən ˌɔn lˈiːd vˈoʊkəlz, dʒˈɑːn mˈiːlɪŋ ˌɔn kˈiːboːɹdz, dʒˈɪm ɹˈɪtʃɚdsən ˌɔn ᵻlˈɛktɹɪk bˈeɪs, dˈɛnɪs ˈɛlɪət ˌɔn dɹˈʌmz, wɪð dˈeɪv kwˈɪnsi ˌɔn ˈæltoʊ ænd tˈɛnɚ sˈæksᵻz, tˈɛɹi smˈɪθ ˌɔn ɡɪtˈɑːɹz, ænd dˈɪk mˈɔːɹɪsi ˌɔn tˈɛnɚ ænd səpɹˈɑːnoʊ sˈæksᵻz ænd flˈuːt.
The definitive seven-piece line-up for the first incarnation of the band, with a more jazz-rock-oriented style, and which appears on the first four studio albums, as well as a live recording, was J. W. Hodkinson on lead vocals, John Mealing on keyboards, Jim Richardson on electric bass, Dennis Eliott on drums, with Dave Quincy on alto and tenor saxes, Terry Smith on guitars, and Dick Morrissey on tenor and soprano saxes and flute.