HOLIDAY HOOPLA: Want something new ...

HOLIDAY HOOPLA: Want something new for Christmas? Not just an old Bing Crosby album or an Alvin & the Chipmunks single? If you’re in the mood for some funk, pick up Alexander O’Neal’s “My Gift to You,” which puts some cool into the yule season. With five tracks produced by studio wizards Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the record offers both new holiday tunes (including a silky “Our First Christmas”) as well as dance-floor versions of more traditional yule classics. . . . For more soothing sounds, look for Leon Redbone’s “Christmas Island.” The goateed crooner supplies sultry, desert-island swing versions of “Winter Wonderland” (with a dobro solo!), “Frosty the Snowman” (with Dr. John handling the vocals) and “Toyland” (with Redbone warbling like a tipsy street-corner Santa). In addition to Dr. John, players include Santa (on sleigh bells and chimes). . . . And you can’t buy a copy of “Winter Warnerland,” Warner Bros. Records’ new limited edition Christmas collection. (The label only pressed up a few thousand copies for radio programmers.) But the tape offers so many delightful yule oddities that you should phone a hip local rock station (we recommend KMPC-FM or KROQ-FM) and beg them to play a cut. Our recommendations: a rollicking norteno version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Los Lobos, a troubadour-style “Deck the Halls” by R.E.M., an irreverent rap called “C.C. Christmas” by the Cold Chillin’ Juice Crew and--last but not least--Christmas money-saving tips by Julie Brown (“for lawn decoration, dress your dog as a reindeer and say, ‘Stay!’ ”).