Released May 1959 Length 2:00 | Format 7" | |
B-side "Let's Go Steady Again" Recorded January 4, 1959
Rex Productions
(Los Angeles, California) Genre Rhythm and blues, soul, pop | ||
"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.
Contents
Background
"Only Sixteen" was inspired by the sixteenth birthday of Lou Rawls' stepsister, Eunice. 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.
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 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.
Other cover versions
Terry Black released a version of the song in Canada in 1965 where it reached number 14. The Supremes recorded it on their 1965 album We Remember Sam Cooke.
E-40 and the click sample it on the first record, he sings the hook in the entro.
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes to the 2003 compilation Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964.