Masterfleet
Masterfleet was a short-lived soul and funk group active in the early 1970s. They released a single album that captured the era's deep soul sound.
Their only album, High On The Sea, came out in 1973 on the Sussex label. Produced by Gamble and Huff, it featured session musicians like Earl Young on drums, Roland Chambers, Norman Harris, T.J. Tindall on guitars, Ronnie Baker on bass, and Larry Washington on congas.
Known members included Stephen Rice, Sterling Rice, and Linus Ceph. Little else is documented about their lineup or individual careers.
The album is now considered a rare deep soul and funk classic, with original LPs fetching high prices among collectors. No further releases or reunions are noted.
High On The Sea
Written-By – Jimmy Briggs 1:23
A2 Skull Stone (To The Bone)
Written-By – Linus Ceph 4:38
A3 Let Love Stand
Written-By – Linus Ceph 2:58
A4 Man & Child
Written-By – Linus Ceph 3:55
A5 Well Phase I
Written-By – Linus Ceph 3:40
B1 Malfunction
Written-By – Linus Ceph 2:54
B2 Academy Awards
Written-By – Jimmy Briggs 4:20
B3 When You're A New Born Child
Written-By – Linus Ceph 2:55
B4 Until Tomorrow
Written-By – Linus Ceph 3:01
B5 Well Phase II
Written-By – Linus Ceph 4:52
Label: Sussex – SRA -8028
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre:
Seventies Soul
Style: Soul, Funk
High On The Sea is a soulful and obscure funk and R&B album by the group Masterfleet, originally released in 1973 (with some pressings in 1974). It was issued through Sussex Records, a label known for artists like Bill Withers and Dennis Coffey.
The album is characterized by a "groovy" mixture of funk and soul. It features a sophisticated arrangement including horns, strings (violin, viola, cello), harp, and synthesizers like the Arp and Clavinet.
Produced and arranged by Jimmy Briggs, the album includes contributions from jazz saxophonist Charles Owens and bassist Jerry Knight.
In essence, "High On The Sea" is a well-regarded niche album for fans of vintage psychedelic rock, appreciated for its atmospheric quality and strong melodies, but lacks extensive mainstream critical coverage.