One Way
One Way was an American R&B and funk band from Detroit, Michigan, known for their hits in the late 1970s through the 1980s.
The group formed in 1979 as a rebranded version of Al Hudson & the Soul Partners, with original members including vocalist Al Hudson, Alicia Myers, guitarists Dave Roberson and Cortez Harris, bassist Kevin McCord, drummer Gregory Green, and keyboardist Jonathan Meadows. They signed with Chocolate City Records (a Peninsula Records subsidiary) and released their self-titled debut album in 1980.
One Way's biggest hit was "Cutie Pie" from their 1981 album Who's Foolin' Who, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Soul Singles chart and No. 61 on the pop chart. Alicia Myers left in 1981 for a solo career, replaced by Candyce Edwards, who featured on hits like "Fancy Dancer." The band moved to MCA Records, releasing successful albums like Lady (1984).
Edwards departed in 1985, with Jeanette Mack-Jackson taking over vocals; the group shifted to Capitol Records in 1988 for A New Beginning. After a hiatus, core members Hudson, Roberson, and Meadows released New Old School in 2019. Note: Multiple groups share the name, but this bio refers to the Detroit soul/funk act, not the South Korean R&B trio.
Cutie Pie
2 Lady You Are 5:24
3 You Can Do It 7:06
4 Wild Night 5:36
5 Don't Fight The Feeling 4:23
6 Don't Think About It 5:40
7 Dynomite 4:51
8 If I Knew 4:59
9 Mr. Groove 4:44
10 You Better Quit 4:11
Label: MCA Special Products – MCAD-20562
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Disco Funk
The 1992 release of Cutie Pie by One Way is a budget-priced compilation album rather than a studio project. Published by MCA Special Products, it serves as a "best-of" collection focused on the band's peak era in the early 1980s.
The collection is praised for capturing the band's "lean, synth-driven funk sound" that heavily influenced club culture and future R&B production. Reviewers highlight the musicianship and the "infectious" nature of the grooves.
As a budget compilation from 1992, it is often criticized for being "out-of-print" and having a limited track count compared to more comprehensive 1996 or later "Best Of" releases. It is currently available as CD or digital download on Amazon though.
The title track remains a "timeless funk classic," having peaked at #4 on the R&B charts in 1982. Its presence on this 1992 CD helped keep the track relevant during the early 90s G-funk era, where One Way's basslines were frequently sampled by hip-hop artists like SFC.
Modern listener ratings on platforms like Discogs are generally high, with users giving it an average of 4.71 out of 5 stars.