Only Sixteen
| "Only Sixteen" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sam Cooke | ||||
| B-side | "Let's Go Steady Again" | |||
| Released | May 1959 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded |
January 4, 1959 Rex Productions (Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues, soul, pop | |||
| Length | 2:00 | |||
| Label | Keen 2022 | |||
| Writer(s) | Sam Cooke, Lou Adler, Herb Alpert | |||
| Producer(s) | Bumps Blackwell | |||
| Sam Cooke singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Only Sixteen" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released in May 1959. The song was a top 15 hit on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart and also charted within the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. It the UK it was covered, and taken to No. 1, by Craig Douglas.
Background
"Only Sixteen" was inspired by the sixteenth birthday of Lou Rawls' stepsister, Eunice.[1] The song was originally intended for actor Steve Rowland, who often hung around the Keen studio. Rowland asked Cooke to write a song for him, and Cooke borrowed the bridge from an earlier song of his, "Little Things You Do". Rowland's manager disliked the song, and Cooke re-recorded it for himself.[1][2]
Chart performance
| Weekly singles chart (1959) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK[3] | 23 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] | 28 |
| U.S. Hot R&B Sides (Billboard)[4] | 13 |
| "Only Sixteen" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Dr. Hook | ||||
| from the album Bankrupt | ||||
| B-side | "Let Me Be Your Lover" | |||
| Released | December 1975 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Writer(s) | Sam Cooke | |||
| Producer(s) | Ron Haffkine | |||
| Certification | Gold | |||
| Dr. Hook singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Dr. Hook cover
Dr. Hook released a version of "Only Sixteen" in the winter of 1976. Their version was the most successful chart release of the song. It reached number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the Cash Box Top 100. Dr. Hook's version spent 22 weeks on the charts and became a Gold record. The song was banned by the BBC.
Chart performance
Weekly singles charts
| Chart (1975-76) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Singles[5] | 3 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary [6] | 9 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 5 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1976) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada [7] | 54 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[8] | 35 |
Other cover versions
Terry Black released a version of the song in Canada in 1965 where it reached #14.[9] The Supremes recorded it on their 1965 album We Remember Sam Cooke.
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes to the 2003 compilation Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964.[1]
- Sam Cooke – vocals
- Clifton White – guitar
- René Hall – guitar
- Adolphus Asbrook – bass guitar
- Charles Blackwell – drums
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 (liner notes). Sam Cooke. US: ABKCO Records. 2003. 92642.
- ↑ Guralnick, Peter (2005). Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. New York: Back Bay Books, p. 280-81. First edition, 2005.
- ↑ "Sam Cooke - Artist - Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- 1 2 "Sam Cooke – Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4102a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=86dvmlih46og48djv21ubn2mm4
- ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4098&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=kk340mlp5ouokba0fog54fq103
- ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5173a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=86dvmlih46og48djv21ubn2mm4
- ↑ http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1976.htm
- ↑ Terry Black, "Only Sixteen" chart position Retrieved June 13, 2015
External links
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