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Travolta Sings For 'Bobby Long'

At the first peak of his career, actor John Travolta was also something of a pop star. On the soundtrack for his latest film, "A Love Song for Bobby Long," he rekindles those talents and tackles a couple of standards.

Prior to his well-known turns on 1978's "Grease" soundtrack, Travolta released a pair of studio albums: a 1976 self-titled set and the following year's "Can't Let You Go." The first featured the single "Let Her In," which reached No. 10 on Billboard's Hot 100.

On the soundtrack to "A Love Song for Bobby Long," due Jan. 11 from Hyena Records, Travolta performs the traditional "Barbara Allen" and the Howard Barnes/Don Robertson song "I Really Don't Want To Know." Everyone from Elvis Presley, Solomon Burke and Rosemary Clooney to Dolly Parton and Eddy Arnold has recorded the latter. Tommy Edwards had the biggest pop hit with it, taking it to No. 18 on Billboard's singles chart in 1960, while Presley's version reached No. 21 in 1971.

Travolta's performance of the traditional "My Gal" is among several songs heard in the film, but not included on the soundtrack.

The 16-track "Bobby Long" disc also features cuts by singer/songwriter Grayson Capps, most notably "Lorraine's Song (My Heart Was a Lonely Hunter)," performed as a duet with soulful singer Theresa Andersson. Andersson included her solo version of the cut on her debut album "Shine," released in April on the Basin Street label.

Capps and Andersson both make cameo appearances in the film, which is based on "Off Magazine Street," an unpublished novel written by Capps' father, Everett Capps. Hyena plans to release Grayson Capps' debut album in the spring.

Also starring Scarlett Johansson and Gabriel Macht, "Bobby Long" is set in New Orleans, and the music on the soundtrack reflects the locale. Along with pieces of score by Nathan Larson, the set boasts cuts by bluesmen Lonnie Pitchford, Lightnin' Hopkins, Magic Slim and Big Bill Morganfield. Also featured is Los Lobos' "Someday," a previously released outtake from the band's sessions for 1990's "The Neighborhood," as well as previously released cuts from indie rock acts Trespassers William, Nada Surf and Giant Drag.

The film opens today (Dec. 29) in New York and Los Angeles, and Jan. 21 in select North American cities. For more information, visit the film's official Web site.

Here is the "A Love Song for Bobby Long" soundtrack list:

"Someday," Los Lobos
"Lorraine's Song (My Heart Was a Lonely Hunter)," Grayson Capps and Theresa Andersson
"Bone," Thalia Zedek
"Bobby" (original score), Nathan Larson
"Different Stars," Trespassers William
"Lonesome Blues," Lonnie Pitchford
"Early Every Morning," Magic Slim
"I Really Don't Want To Know," John Travolta
"Barbara Allen," John Travolta
"This Isn't It," Giant Drag
"Daughter Like Mother" (original score), Nathan Larson
"Rising Son," Big Bill Morganfield
"Washboard Lisa," Grayson Capps
"Blonde on Blonde," Nada Surf
"Praying Ground Blues," Lightnin' Hopkins
"Love Song For Bobby Long," Grayson Capps

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