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 

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   

• The Best of Sam Cooke
• Forever 32 Hits
• Hit Kit 
• The Man And His Music
• The Man Who Invented Soul (Box)
• Portrait Of A Legend
• All 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)

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

1. Cornell Campbell  on 'One Love'  -  reggea    
2. Don Campbell      on 'Album'  -  reggea
3. Dr. Hook    on 'On The Run'   -   live version on YouTube.
4. Craig Douglas    on many albums, first release 1959 on the Top Rank label   -   pop
5. The Heptones  on  'In Love With You' (1978)  -  reggea
6. Jan Hoiland
7. Dennis Locorierre  on 'Live in Liverpool'  -  acoustic live   
8. Mud   on 'The Story Of'     
9. Daniel O'Daniel   on 'Teenage Dreams' 
10. Vel Omarr    -    on 'Here's My Soul'
11. Persuasions   on  'Live in the Whispering Gallery' in 1976
12. Sly & Robbie  on '60's + 70's + 80's = Taxi' from 1981   -  reggea
13. Southside Johnny & Ashbury Jukes (Live)
14. The  Supremes    (On the "We Remember Sam Cooke" album)

Compilation Albums

• "Hits Revival" on K-Tel KTLP 235-1, this is the heavily orchestrated, organ version