Only Sixteen

Written by Sam Cooke (1959)

Recorded    January 4th, 1959 at Rex Productions in Los Angeles   

Producer:    Bumps Blackwell

Musicians

• Clif White - guitar
• René Hall - guitar
• Ray Johnson - piano
• Dolphus Asbrook - bass
• Charles Blackwell - drums

Information   

• Barbara Campbell is the registered author to avoid having Specialty Records make the money for the song.
• It was probably written in Lou Rawls' parents' apartement in Chicago, maybe about Rawls' stepsister Marian, who turned sixteen in 1959 (source: You Send Me book)
• Peter Guralnick in the booklet for the CD Portrait Of A Legend says it was meant for Rawls' stepsister Eunice!
• The song was originally intened for a teenage actor named Steve Rowland, a friend of Ricky Nelson whose father was a B-movie director. The producers didn't like it so Sam recorded it himself (Portrait Of A Legend)
• Sam used the bridge for this song from Little things you do (Portrait Of A Legend)
   

Billboard Review: (about the single b/w Let's Go Steady Again): Cooke treats both songs in easygoing attractive style. "Only Sixteen" is a rockaballad with a teen-slanted lyric that can create interest. - The song was a Billboard pick.

Charts    #28 in June 1959 (Keen), #13 R&B, #23 UK 

MP3 at Amazon.com . They also have a Karaoke-Version

Singles    

• Keen 2022 b/w Let's Go Steady Again (January 6, 1959)
• RCA 2093 b/w Twistin' The Night Away
• HMV POP 642 b/w Let's Go Steady Again (UK 78rpm, 1959)
• Emi 201373 b/w Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha (Germany)

Albums   

• Hit Kit
• The Best of Sam Cooke
• The Man Who Invented Soul (Box)
• The Man And His Music
• Portrait Of A Legend
• All Hits
• Forever 32 Hits
• The Best Of Sam Cooke (Premier)
• Gold 
• The Golden Age of Sam Cooke 
• The Great Sam Cooke
• Right On
• Sam Cooke Song Book Vol. 3: 12 All Time Hits
• 16 Greatest Hits - Only Sixteen
• 16 Most Requested Songs
• This is Sam Cooke
• 20 Great Hits    /    Only Sixteen - 20 Greatest Hits
• Unforgettable Memories
• The Very Best Of Sam Cooke
• What A Wonderful World
• Wonderful World 
• The Wonderful World of Sam Cooke - 40 Great Memories
• The World of Sam Cooke
• You Send Me (ARC) 
• You Send Me (Charly) 
• You Send Me (Starlite) -with organ
• The Best Of Sam Cooke (PMC)
• Only Sixteen
• The Best of (Paradiso)
• The Keen Records Story

Compilation Albums

• "Hits Revival" on K-Tel KTLP 235-1, this is the heavily orchestrated, organ version
• "25 Super Soul Hits, Vol. 2" on Charly [1992]
• "The Rock 'N' Roll Era: 1959 - Still Rockin'" on Time Life [1989]
• "Super Stars" on Super [1997]
• "Greatest Hits of the 60's [Performance 2004\
• "Purely Hits of the Sixties" [TBC 2008]

Lyrics    /    Chords

She was only sixteen, only sixteen
I loved her so
But she was too young to fall in love
And I was too young to know

We'd laugh and we'd sing
and do the little things
That made my heart glow
But she was too young to fall in love
And I was too young to know

Why did I give my heart so fast
it never will happen again
But I was a mere lad of sixteen
I've aged a year since then

She was only sixteen, only sixteen
with eyes that would glow
But she was too young to fall in love
and I was too young to know

(Then why did you give your heart so fast)
Boy, it never will happen again
(But you were a mere lad of sixteen)
Oh, I've aged a year since then

She was only sixteen, only sixteen
With eyes that would glow
But she was too young to fall in love
And I was too young to know
She was too young to fall in love
And I was too young to know

Covered By

Gerald Alston	Sings Sam Cooke (2008)
Terry Black	Only Sixteen (1965)
Cornell Campbell	One Love
Don Campbell	Album
Tony Cark		MP3 at Amazon.com
Dr. Hook	On The Run	MP3 at Amazon.com
Craig Douglas		MP3 at Amazon.com
Harbour Lights	Absolutely Acappela (2007)
The Heptones	In Love With You (1978)	MP3 at Amazon.com
Jan Hoiland
Dennis Locorierre	Live in Liverpool
Mud	The Story of Mud
Daniel O'Daniel	Teenage Dreams
Vel Omarr	Here's My Soul
The Persuasions	Live in the Whispering Gallery (1976)
Sly & Robbie	60s+70s+80s = Taxi (1981)	MP3 at Amazon.com
Southside Johnny & Ashbury Jukes		Live
The Supremes	We Remember Sam Cooke