Christmas On the Lam and Other Songs From the Season, various artists (Red House)

Minnesota-based Red House Records seems a likely place for a Christmas compilation to originate, and yet it took them until 2016 to follow through. This collection of Americana artists does a nice job with a collection of classics and originals. John Gorka's "Holed Up Mason City" is a road song about having to yield to the wintry weather, Heather Masse sings the praises of "Mittens," Dale Watson & His Lonestars go nearly full country with "Christmas To Me," Robin & Linda Williams go folky on the intimate "Together All Alone," Suzzy Roche enlists Jules Shear for his co-written "Cold Hard Wind," Charlie Parr breaks out the dobro for the album's near-title song, the field blues "Slim Tall's Christmas on the Lam," and the Wailin' Jennys give us the front-porch gospel of "Glory Bound." Reaching for the songbook are Jorma Kaukonen with the finger-picked version of the West Indian carol "The Baby Boy," the Pines cover Gordon Lightfoot's "Song For a Winter's Night," Bill Kirchen and Austin de Lone put a little Nashville on Mack Rice's "Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'," Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams serve up a traditional country "Blue Christmas," and Davina and the Vagabonds slip a little Dixieland into "Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me."  A fine collection of roots music for Christmas.