Happy Feet

Al Hudson's Detroit-based group changed their name on several occasions. Originally called Al Hudson & the Soul Partners, the Motor City residents went by Al Hudson & the Partners for awhile before changing their name to One Way Featuring Al Hudson in 1979. And in the 1980s, they dropped "Featuring Al Hudson" from their name and simply became One Way. Released in 1979, Happy Feet was their last album as Al Hudson & the Partners, in fact, this LP was still on the R&B charts when they started calling themselves One Way Featuring Al Hudson. A generally decent soul/funk/disco outing, Happy Feet ranges from snappy dance numbers like "Rock," "In the Basement," and the single "You Can Do It" to romantic ballads and slow jams such as "I Don't Want You to Leave Me" and Peabo Bryson's "Another Love Song." The singer who stands out the most on this album is, without question, Alicia Myers; a passionate, big-voiced goddess who went solo in the early '80s, and is best known for her 1981 hit "I Want to Thank You." Arguably, Myers was the best vocalist that Hudson's outfit ever had, which is ironic when you consider that One Way had some of their biggest hits after her departure. Happy Feet isn't the group's best or most essential album, but it's enjoyable nonetheless, and Myers' participation makes it worth the price of admission. ~ Alex Henderson