Kernel 2.4.4 and ALSA sound

I've experimented with the 2.4.2 kernel from kernel.org and encountered two problems: failures of USB initialization and no sound. I'm not too concerned about the USB problems since I don't have any USB devices, but I do want to get my sound back. I've read somewhere here that the problem is that the kernel doesn't include ALSA support. Are there any workarounds for that or other methods anyone here has used to get sound under 2.4.4? Paul