"Only Sixteen" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released in May 1959. It 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. In 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's stepsister, Eunice. It 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 result, and Cooke re-recorded it for himself.Guralnick, Peter (2005). Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. New York: Back Bay Books, p. 280-81. First edition, 2005. The composition was originally credited to Barbara Campbell, a pseudonym used for Cooke, Lou Adler and Herb Alpert. Cooke married the real Barbara Campbell in October 1959. "Only Sixteen" was, in fact, solely written by Cooke.
Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes to the 2003 compilation Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964. Sam Cooke – vocals Clifton White – guitar René Hall – guitar Adolphus Asbrook – bass guitar Charles Blackwell – drums
Chart performance Weekly charts (1959)PeakpositionUK23US Billboard Hot 10028US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard)13
The Supremes version
The Supremes recorded a version, first released on their tribute album We Remember Sam Cooke (1965). In 1968, it was released as an A-side single in Scandinavia, as Diana Ross & the Supremes, where it reached No. 3 in Sweden. The B-side, "Some Things You Never Get Used To" was released elsewhere as an A-side, becoming a top 40 hit in the US, Canada, and the UK.
Charts Chart (1968)Peakposition Sweden (Kvällstoppen) 3
Dr. Hook version
Dr. Hook released a version of "Only Sixteen" in the winter of 1975 and it was the most successful chart release of the song. It reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on Cash Box. Dr. Hook's version spent 22 weeks on the charts and became a Gold record.
Chart performance Weekly charts Chart (1975–1976)Peakposition Australia (Kent Music Report)3 Canadian RPM Top Singles3Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary9US Billboard Hot 1006US Billboard Adult Contemporary14US Cash Box Top 100 5
Year-end charts Chart (1976)RankAustralia (Kent Music Report)39Canada54US Billboard Hot 10035
Certifications
Other cover versions Terry Black released a version in Canada in 1965 where it reached No. 14.
See also List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1950s
References