Only Sixteen

1959 song by Sam Cooke

This article is about the Sam Cooke song. For the Terry Black album, see Only 16.

"Only Sixteen"

One of side-A labels of the original US single

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)

|
|

"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.[1] In the UK it was covered, and taken to No. 1, by Craig Douglas.[2]

## Background

[edit]

"Only Sixteen" was inspired by the sixteenth birthday of Lou Rawls's stepsister, Eunice.[3] 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.[3][4] 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.[5][6] "Only Sixteen" was, in fact, solely written by Cooke.[7]

## Personnel

[edit]

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

[edit]

Weekly charts (1959)  | Peak
position

|

UK[8] | 23
US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 28
US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard)[9] | 13

## The Supremes version

[edit]

"Only Sixteen"

Swedish single picture sleeve

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).[10] In 1968, it was released as an A-side single in Scandinavia, as Diana Ross & the Supremes,[11] where it reached No. 3 in Sweden.[12] 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,[13] Canada,[14] and the UK.[15]

### Charts

[edit]

Chart (1968)  | Peak
position

|

Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[16][12] | 3

## Dr. Hook version

[edit]

"Only Sixteen"

Side A of the US single

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 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

[edit]

#### Weekly charts

[edit]

Chart (1975–1976)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] | 3
Canadian RPM Top Singles[18] | 3
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[19] | 9
US Billboard Hot 100[20] | 6
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[21] | 14
US Cash Box Top 100  | 5

#### Year-end charts

[edit]

Chart (1976)  | Rank

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[22] | 39
Canada[23] | 54
US Billboard Hot 100[24] | 35

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[25] | Gold  | 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## Other cover versions

[edit]

* Terry Black released a version in Canada in 1965 where it reached No. 14.[26]
* The Supremes recorded it on their 1965 album We Remember Sam Cooke.
* Jamaican artist Cornell Campbell also recorded a reggae version.

## Samples

[edit]

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

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 119\. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 167\. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
3. ^ a b c Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964 (liner notes). Sam Cooke. US: ABKCO Records. 2003. 92642.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. ^ Guralnick, Peter (2005). Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. New York: Back Bay Books, p. 280-81. First edition, 2005.
5. ^ Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (May 26, 2010). 1,000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-360-2.
6. ^ Gulla, Bob (2008). Icons of R&B and soul: an encyclopedia of the artists who revolutionized rhythm. Greenwood icons. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-34044-4.
7. ^ Only Sixteen by Sam Cooke - Track Info | AllMusic, retrieved July 18, 2023
8. ^ "Sam Cooke – Artist – Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
9. ^ a b "Sam Cooke – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
10. ^ Hamilton, Andrew. "We Remember Sam Cooke - The Supremes | Songs, Reviews, Credits..." Allmusic. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
11. ^ "THE SUPREMES DISCOGRAPHY". 7inchrecords.com. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
12. ^ a b "AUGUSTI 1968" (PDF). Kvällstoppen. p. 25. Retrieved January 17, 2022 - via hitsallertijden.nl.
13. ^ "The Supremes Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2018 - via Wayback Machine.
14. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
15. ^ "The Supremes | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
16. ^ "Supremes - Se alla lȧtar och listplaceringer - NostalgiListan". Kvällstoppen (in Swedish). Retrieved January 30, 2022 - via nostalgilistan.se.
17. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 94\. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
18. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
19. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
20. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 247.
21. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 74.
22. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1976". Kent Music Report. December 27, 1976. Retrieved January 11, 2022 - via Imgur.
23. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
24. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
25. ^ "Hook Shots" (PDF). Cash Box. June 4, 1977. p. 52. Retrieved November 25, 2021 - via World Radio History.
26. ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved August 29, 2016.

* v
* t
* e

Sam Cooke

Studio albums|

* Sam Cooke
* Encore
* Tribute to the Lady
* Cooke's Tour
* Hits of the 50's
* Swing Low
* My Kind of Blues
* Twistin' the Night Away
* Mr. Soul
* Night Beat
* Ain't That Good News
* Shake
* Try a Little Love

Live albums|

* Sam Cooke at the Copa
* Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963

Collaboration albums|

* 3 Great Guys

Compilations|

* Hit Kit
* I Thank God
* The Wonderful World of Sam Cooke
* The Best of Sam Cooke
* The Man and His Music
* Portrait of a Legend: 1951–1964

Singles|

* "You Send Me" / "Summertime"
* "I'll Come Running Back to You"
* "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons"
* "You Were Made for Me" / "Lonely Island"
* "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha"
* "Only Sixteen"
* "There! I've Said It Again"
* "Wonderful World"
* "Chain Gang"
* "Sad Mood"
* "That's It, I Quit, I'm Movin' On"
* "Cupid"
* "Twistin' the Night Away"
* "Bring It On Home to Me" / "Having a Party"
* "Somebody Have Mercy" / "Nothing Can Change This Love"
* "Send Me Some Lovin'"
* "Another Saturday Night"
* "Frankie and Johnny"
* "Little Red Rooster"
* "Ain't That Good News"
* "Good Times" / "Tennessee Waltz"
* "That's Where It's At"
* "Shake" / "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Related articles|

* Discography
* The Soul Stirrers
* René Hall
* Linda Womack
* We Remember Sam Cooke

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Terry Black

Albums|

* Only 16

Singles|

* "Unless You Care"
* "Little Liar"
* "Only Sixteen"
* "Poor Little Fool"
* "Rainbow"

Related Articles|

* Meatballs
* Dr. Music
* "One More Mountain to Climb"

* v
* t
* e

Dr. Hook

* Billy Francis
* Ray Sawyer
* George Cummings
* Bobby Dominguez
* Jimmy Allen
* Dennis Locorriere
* Popeye Phillips
* Joseph Oliver
* John David
* Rik Elswit
* Jance Garfat
* John Wolters
* Bob "Willard" Henke
* Rod Smarr
* Walter Hartman

Studio albums|

* Doctor Hook (1972)
* Sloppy Seconds (1973)
* Pleasure and Pain (1978)
* Sometimes You Win (1979)

Compilations|

* Dr. Hook Revisited (1976)
* Greatest Hits (1980)
* The Essential Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (2003)

Singles|

* "Sylvia's Mother"
* "Carry Me Carrie
* "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'"
* "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan"
* "Only Sixteen"
* "A Little Bit More"
* "Walk Right In"
* "Sharing the Night Together"
* "All the Time in the World"
* "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman"
* "Better Love Next Time"
* "Sexy Eyes"

Related articles|

* Discography

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template