When You Were Sweet Sixteen

~ from the Bing Crosby Productions, Inc., Picture "The Great John L."

Words and Music by James Thornton and Published 1898

Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. ~ ASCAP

 

Orchestra Conducted by Lloyd Shaffer

with the Satisfiers

Produced by Charles Grean

 

Recorded at RCA Victor Studio 2, New York City

Recording Time 3:10

 

Recorded April 10, 1947   ~  Matrix No. D7VB - 0248  Take 1 - 1A

 

SESSION MUSICIANS

April 10, 1947 

A&R Production Charles Grean

 

Orchestra

EVENING 7:00 TO 10:00 PM 

NO OVERTIME

 

Leader: Lloyd Shaffer

Contractor: Richard Kissinger

 

Sax ~ Arthur Baker 

Sax ~ Arthur Owen 

Sax ~ Nicholas Caiazza

Sax ~ Albert Klink 

Sax ~ Edwin Hellman 

 

Violin ~ Sylvan Shulman 

Violin ~ William Lockwood 

Violin ~ Mac Ceppos 

Violin ~ Luisa Piarulli 

Violin ~ Henry Berv 

Violin ~ Max Senofsky 

Violin ~ Robert Freda 

 

Viola ~ Samuel Persoff 

 

Cello ~ Emil Borsody 

 

Drums ~ Terry Snyder 

 

Bass ~ Frank Carroll 

 

Trumpet ~ Emanuel Weinstock 

Trumpet ~ Bernard Privin 

Trumpet ~ John Owens

 

Trombone ~ John D'agostino 

Trombone ~ George Arus 

Trombone ~ Frank Saracco 

 

Piano ~ Henry Rowland

 

Guitar ~ Allen Hanlen 

 

Harp ~ Edw. Vito 

 

Single release: RCA-78RPM-20-2259-B

Single Flip Side: "Chi-Baba Chi-Baba ( My Bambino Go To Sleep )"

US Chart Position No. 2 ( 1 Week ) Chart Debut: August 23, 1947

 

Single release: RCA-78RPM-20-3300-A ( P-237 )

Single release: RCA-45RPM 47-2888 ( 1949 )

Single Flip Side: "Song of Songs"

 

Notes: ~ Who could have imagined that such a sweet and simple song as this would become a

million-seller in the troubled, complicated year of 1947? Perry's lovely, thoughtful

performance had a great deal to do with making it a smash. But "When You Were Sweet Sixteen"

also brought listeners back to an earlier era when life was easier and less complex. James

Thornton, a drinking companion of the legendary world-champion boxer John L. Sullivan,

wrote the song at the turn of the century.

( notes from "The Incomparable Como" Readers Digest UK compilation 1975 )

| Lyrics | Album Links | Digital Finder | 1970 'Live' Version |

Orchestra Conducted by Lloyd Shaffer

with the Satisfiers

Produced by Charles Grean

Recorded at RCA Victor Studio 2, New York City

Recorded April 10, 1947

A Perry Como Discography 

& Digital Companion

| Site Links | All Albums |  All Songs | The Recording Sessions |

First Edition Summer 1992

Second Edition Christmas 1993

Web Page Edition Christmas 1997

25th Anniversary Revision November, 2017

Digital Upgrade August, 2018

July 2026 Revised Edition

 

 

George Townsend

HQV Selekt Group

3 Seaview Avenue

Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2G3

Canada

 

Telephone: (902) 698-9848

Monday, July 27, 2026

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