[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #272]
Sweet Little Sixteen
| "Sweet Little Sixteen" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Chuck Berry | ||||
| B-side | "Reelin' and Rockin'" | |||
| Released | January 1958 | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll | |||
| Label | Chess 1683 | |||
| Writer(s) | Chuck Berry | |||
| Producer | Leonard and Phil Chess | |||
| Chuck Berry singles chronology | ||||
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"Sweet Little Sixteen" is a rock and roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry, who released it as a single in January 1958. It reached number two on the American charts, Berry's highest position ever on the charts, with the exception of the suggestive number one hit "My Ding-A-Ling" in 1972. "Sweet Little Sixteen" also reached number one on the R&B Best Sellers chart.[1] Rolling Stone Magazine ranked the song #272 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.
Lyrics
Its subject is fans of Rock and Roll, and specifically a girl, who has just turned sixteen and who is obsessed with Rock and Roll performers. The song talks about her birthday and how she begs her mom and dad to let her go to a concert. The song describes what she wears - "tight dresses and lipstick; she's sporting high heel shoes". It then goes on to say how "tomorrow morning she'll be sweet sixteen and back in class again".
Covers
There is a cover version by Joe Brown and the Bruvvers on their 1962 album Pictures of You.
The Beach Boys' 1963 song "Surfin' USA" has virtually the same melody, with new lyrics that focus on the Beach Boys' ongoing theme of Surfing. Following litigation by Berry the song is credited to Berry/Wilson.
Between 1963 and 1965 the Beatles performed the song on BBC radio. It can be heard on the compilation album Live at the BBC. John Lennon recorded the song again for his album Rock 'n' Roll.
The Animals' version is available on their 1966 album Animalisms. Ten Years After released a live version of this song on their 1970 album Watt. Jesse Colin Young also covered it on his 1972 album Together.
Fictional synth pop band Silicon Teens recorded a version of the song for their 1980 album Music For Parties released on Mute Records.
Rock and roll artist Jerry Lee Lewis also covered this song, a known duet-version with Beatles drummer Ringo Starr appeared on Lewis' 2006 duet-album Last Man Standing.
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 55.
| Preceded by "Get a Job" by The Silhouettes |
Billboard R&B Best Sellers in Stores number-one single March 10, 1958 - March 21, 1958 (three weeks) |
Succeeded by "Tequila" by The Champs |
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