Only Sixteen
"Only Sixteen" | ||||
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Single by Sam Cooke | ||||
B-side | "Let's Go Steady Again" | |||
Released | May 1959 | |||
Recorded | January 4, 1959 | |||
Studio | Rex Productions, Los Angeles, California | |||
Genre | Rhythm and blues, soul, pop | |||
Length | 2:00 | |||
Label | Keen 2022 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Sam Cooke | |||
Producer(s) | Bumps Blackwell | |||
Sam Cooke singles chronology | ||||
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"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.[1] In the UK it was covered, and taken to No. 1, by Craig Douglas.[2]
Background[]
"Only Sixteen" was inspired by the sixteenth birthday of Lou Rawls' stepsister, Eunice.[3] 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.[3][4]
Chart performance[]
Weekly charts (1959) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK[5] | 23 |
US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 28 |
US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard)[6] | 13 |
Dr. Hook version[]
"Only Sixteen" | ||||
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Single by Dr. Hook | ||||
from the album Bankrupt | ||||
B-side | "Let Me Be Your Lover" | |||
Released | December 1975 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | Sam Cooke | |||
Producer(s) | Ron Haffkine | |||
Dr. Hook singles chronology | ||||
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Dr. Hook released a version of "Only Sixteen" in the winter of 1975. Their version was the most successful chart release of the song. It reached number six on the US 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[citation needed].
Chart performance[]
Weekly charts[]
Chart (1975–76) | Peak position |
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Canadian RPM Top Singles[7] | 3 |
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[8] | 9 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[9] | 14 |
US Cash Box Top 100 | 5 |
Year-end charts[]
Chart (1976) | Rank |
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Canada[10] | 54 |
US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 35 |
Other cover versions[]
Terry Black released a version of the song in Canada in 1965 where it reached number 14.[12] The Supremes recorded it on their 1965 album We Remember Sam Cooke.
Jamaican artist Cornell Campbell also recorded a reggae version of the song.
E-40 and the click sample it on the first record, he sings the hook in the intro.
Personnel[]
Credits adapted from the liner notes to the 2003 compilation Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964.[3]
- Sam Cooke – vocals
- Clifton White – guitar
- René Hall – guitar
- Adolphus Asbrook – bass guitar
- Charles Blackwell – drums
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 119. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 167. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 (liner notes). Sam Cooke. US: ABKCO Records. 2003. 92642.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Sam Cooke – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 74.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
External links[]
- 1959 songs
- 1959 singles
- 1965 singles
- 1975 singles
- 1976 singles
- Songs written by Sam Cooke
- Sam Cooke songs
- Terry Black songs
- The Supremes songs
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- Keen Records singles
- Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show songs
- Song recordings produced by Ron Haffkine
- Capitol Records singles