music.wikisort.org - Composition

"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]

"Only Sixteen"
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
"Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" (1959) "Only Sixteen" (1959) "Summertime" (1959)

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]

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

Chart performance

Weekly charts (1959)	Peak position
UK[5]	23
US Billboard Hot 100[6]	28
US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard)[6]	13

The Supremes version

"Only Sixteen"
Single by The Supremes
from the album We Remember Sam Cooke
B-side	"Some Things You Never Get Used To"
Released	1968
Recorded	1965
Genre	Rhythm and blues, soul, pop
Length	2:24
Label	Tamla Motown
Songwriter(s)	Sam Cooke
Producer(s)	Harvey Fuqua · Hal Davis · Marc Gordon
The Supremes singles chronology
"Forever Came Today" (1968) "Only Sixteen" (1968) "Love Child" (1968)

The Supremes recorded a version, first released on their tribute album We Remember Sam Cooke (1965).[7] In 1968, it was released as an A-side single in Scandinavia, as Diana Ross & the Supremes,[8] where it reached number three in Sweden.[9] 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,[10] Canada[11] and UK.[12]

Charts

Chart (1968)	Peak position
Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[13][9]	3

Dr. Hook version

"Only Sixteen"
Single by Dr. Hook
from the album Bankrupt
B-side	"Let Me Be Your Lover"
Released	December 1975
Genre	Pop
Length	2:46
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Sam Cooke
Producer(s)	Ron Haffkine
Dr. Hook singles chronology
"The Millionaire" (1975) "Only Sixteen" (1975) "A Little Bit More" (1976)

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
Australia [14]	3
Canadian RPM Top Singles[15]	3
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[16]	9
US Billboard Hot 100[17]	6
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[18]	14
US Cash Box Top 100	5

Year-end charts

Chart (1976)	Rank
Australia[19]	39
Canada[20]	54
US Billboard Hot 100[21]	35

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22]	Gold	50,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions

• Terry Black released a version of the song in Canada in 1965 where it reached number 14.[23]
• The Supremes recorded it on their 1965 album We Remember Sam Cooke.
• Jamaican artist Cornell Campbell also recorded a reggae version of the song.

Samples

• E-40 and The Click sampled it on their first record, singing the hook in the intro.

See also

• List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1950s

References

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