Travolta takes the mike

Audiences at John Travolta's new film will be treated to a blast from the past when he shows off his vocal skills for the first time since Grease.

16:28 04 January 2005

Audiences at John Travolta's new film will be treated to a blast from the past when he shows off his vocal skills for the first time since Grease.

The 50-year-old star of Pulp Fiction performs two standards on the soundtrack of his new film, A Love Song For Bobby Long.

These are Barbara Allen and I Really Don't Want to Know, which was a massive hit for Tommy Edwards in 1960 and for Elvis Presley in 1971.

Travolta enjoyed chart success in the 1970s with tunes from the movie musical Grease, such as Sandy and You're The One That I Want.

He is now turning the microphone back on and also performs a version of My Gal in the film, although this does not appear on the soundtrack.

In the film, which also stars Scarlett Johansson, Travolta plays a former literature professor whose fondness for the bottle looks to be leading his life down the drain.

He said that although he did not have experience of alcoholism, he still felt his character was credible.

"I was never a heroin addict or a hit man, either, do you know what I mean," he said.

"In Pulp Fiction, I had my obligation there to portray that character; if you're a mirror of humanity, that's your job, and I'm doing it."