“Happy Holidays (Part 1)” – OHIO Players (Mercury – 1975)
No other major Soul band of the `70s thought to compose and record a Christmas song during that decade except the Ohio Players. Singer/Guitarist Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner warmly leads the way on this gem with falsetto backing and Arp string ensemble kitsch, originally released as a 2-part 45. Though an extended complete take later came out on their Funk On Fire box set, Part 1 on the single is the dosage, like Goldilocks’ porridge, labeled “just right.”
