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Only Sixteen

"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. 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. The song's composition was originally credited to Barbara Campbell, a pseudonym used for Cooke, Lou Adler and Herb Alpert. Cooke married 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

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

Dr. Hook version

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 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.