When You Were Sweet Sixteen ~  album linksPerry Como ~ Mr. Saturday Night!
 
~ 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
 
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"
 
Original Musical Smart SetSupper Club Favorites ~ 1953Supper Club Favorites ~ 1953 45 Extended Play Version
 
Como's Golden Records LPM-3224 ~ 1954Relaxing With Perry Como ~ 1956Relaxing with Perry Como
 
Perry Como ~ 10 EP Box-Set 1957Como's Golden Records ~ 1958Como's Golden Records ~ Volume 2 EPA-5029
 
Perry Como ~ Till the End of Time Compact 33 DoubleThis Is Perry Como Volume 1Como's Golden Records ~ UK Version circa 1970
 
The Best of Perry Como - Reader's Digest UK 197120 Golden Hits - AustraliaThe First Thirty Years ~ Perry Como RCA UK1975
 
Perry Como ~ Pure GoldThe Incomparable Como ~ Reader's Digest UK 1975The Best of Perry Como ~ Reader's Digest U,S. 1975
 
Perry Como - Catch a Falling Star - FrancePerry Como 40 Greatest ~ K-TEL UK 1975Sings His Greatest Hits - Record Club Edition 1976
 
Magic Moments - K-Tel GermanyPerry Como - 16 Million HitsPerry Como's 20 Greatest Hits Volume 1 & 2 ( UK )
 
A Special Tribute to Perry Como for His 40th Year with RCA VictorPerry Como's Greatest HitsFor The Good Times ~ RCA UK 1984
 
For The Good Times ~ HollandComo's Golden Records ~ Best Buy Series 1985Legendary Singers ~ Perry Como
 
Quality Records Canada "Magic Moments" 1985 compilationMemories ~ 18 Romantic FavouritesRepublic of China - Como's Golden Records
 
Original Musical Smart Set "Supper Club Favorites" WP-237 MONO ASSEMBLED 1949
Album issue: RCA-LP10 "Supper Club Favorites" LPM-3044 MONO ASSEMBLED MAY 1952
Album issue: RCA-45RPM-EPB "Supper Club Favorites" EPB-3044 MONO 1952
Album issue: RCA-LP10 "Como's Golden Records" LPM-3224 MONO 1954
Album issue: RCA-45RPM-EPB "Como's Golden Records" EPB-3224 MONO 1954
Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Relaxing With Perry Como" LPM-1176 MONO 1956 
Album issue: RCA-45RPM-EPB "Relaxing With Perry Como" EPB-1176 MONO 1956
Album issue: RCA-45RPM EP BOX SET  "Perry Como" SPD-27 MONO 1957
Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Como's Golden Records" LOP-1007 & LPM-1981 MONO 1958 
Album issue: RCA-45RPM-EP "Como's Golden Records" EPA-5029 MONO 1958
Album issue: RCA-COMPACT 33 DOUBLE "Till the End of Time" LPC-109 MONO 1960
Album issue: RCA-LP12 "This is Perry Como Vol. 1" VPS-6026 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1970 
Album issue: RCA-UK-LP12 "Como's Golden Records" INTS-1204 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1970
Album issue: Box Set "The Best of Perry Como" RD UK STEREO GBPC-6A 1971
Album issue: RCA-AUSTRALIA-LP12 "20 Golden Hits" RCA SP 138 STEREO 1974
Album issue: RCA-UK-LP12 "The First Thirty Years" LFL4-7522 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1975
Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Pure Gold" ANL1- 0972 (e) ELECTRONIC STEREO 1975
Album issue: Box Set "The Incomparable Como" RD UK ELECTRONIC STEREO GINC-6A 1975
Album issue: Box Set "The Best of Perry Como" RD US ELECTRONIC STEREO RDA-167-A 1975
Album issue: RCA-FRANCE-LP12 "Catch a Falling Star" STAR SERIES FCL1-7180 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1975
Album issue: K-TEL-LP12 "40 Greatest" K-TEL NE-700 MONO 1975 
Album issue: RCA Club Special Edition "Perry Como Sings His Greatest Hits" STEREO / MONO 64-436 1976
Album issue: K-TEL-LP12 "Magic Moments" K-TEL GERMANY TG-1305 MONO 1977
Album issue: TELDEC-LP12 "16 Million Hits" RCA GERMANY Circa 1979
Album issue: RCA-LP12 "20 Greatest Hits Vol. 1" RCA UK NK-89019 MONO 1983
Album issue: RCA-LP12 "40 Golden Years" RCA PC-1983 Limited Edition Record 1983
Album issue: RCA Special Products-LP12 "Greatest Hits" DMM1-0606 MONO 1983
Album issue: RCA-UK-LP12 "For The Good Times" Star 2235 STEREO 1983
Album issue: RCA-HOLLAND-LP12 "For The Good Times" Star 2211 STEREO 1986
Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Como's Golden Records" AYL1-3802 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1984
Album issue: Box Set "Legendary Singers" TIME-LIFE RECORDS SLGD-04 MONO 1985
Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Memories" RCA AUSTRALIA J&B 190 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1985
Album issue: Quality Records-LP12 "Magic Moments" QRSP-1007 MONO 1985
Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Como's Golden Records" Republic of China ELECTRONIC STEREO ( Unknown Date )
 
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 )

Extender Play AlbumOriginal RCA RecordingVinyl Version| Irving Berlin Quote |
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

Composer Index
A Perry Como Discography 
& Digital Companion

RCA Victor Memorial| Site Links | All Albums |  All Songs | The Recording Sessions |

First Edition Summer 1992
Second Edition Christmas 1993
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25th Anniversary Revision November, 2017
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