"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 Campbell in October 1959.[5][6] "Only Sixteen" was, in fact, solely written by Cooke.[7]
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.
^Gulla, Bob (2008). Icons of R&B and soul: an encyclopedia of the artists who revolutionized rhythm. Greenwood icons. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. ISBN978-0-313-34044-4.
^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. ISBN0-646-11917-6.