Various artists

Sappy mall holiday tunes these aren’t, thank the lawd. Sixteen artists kick off with the queen of the blues, Koko Taylor (“Have You Heard the News?”). Favorites: Windy City harp from Carey Bell with rollicking boogie piano from Ken Saydak (“Christmas Train”); befezzed slashing slide man Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials (“Christmas Time,” with its wise refrain, “give me some of yours, I’ll give you some of mine—’cause it’s Christmas time”); and W.C. Clark, the best soul singer of the bunch, with the Texas Horns (“Christmas Party”). Both zydeco royalty C.J. Chenier and Texas piano chanteuse Marcia Ball, singing in Cajun French and English, add hot-spice songs. And Little Charlie & the Nightcats pontificate perfectly with the lowdown sentiment “spend, spend, spend, hallelujah, it’s Christmas time again.”