"Sixteen Reasons (Why I Love You)" is a

list song A list song, also called a laundry list song or a catalog song, is a song based wholly or in part on a list. Unlike topical songs with a narrative and a cast of characters, list songs typically develop by working through a series of information, o ...

written by Bill and Doree Post in 1959 recounting sixteen reasons for being in love, beginning "The way you hold my hand", which in 1960 reached #3 via a recording by

Connie Stevens Connie Stevens (born Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingolia; August 8, 1938) is an American actress and singer. Born in Brooklyn, New York City to musician parents, Stevens was raised there until age 12, when she was sent to live with family friends in r ...

Composition

The composers, Bill and Doree Post, were a husband-and-wife team from Kansas who had several single releases on Crest Records but their own version of "Sixteen Reasons" was not released until 1963: Doree Post was then deceased having been claimed by stomach cancer on 24 July 1961. Bill Post died in 2014.

Connie Stevens recording

The Connie Stevens single with arrangement and accompaniment by

Don Ralke Don Ralke (July 13, 1920 – January 26, 2000) was an American music arranger, composer, and record producer, working for four decades in the Hollywood studio system in films, television, and pop recordings. He was born on July 13, 1920, in Batt ...

was issued in December 1959 with the Robert Allen composition "Little Sister" being the intended A-side - another version of the last-named song by Cathy Carr was issued as a single at the same time. "Sixteen Reasons" was Stevens' second

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...

hit, the precedent being a duet with Edd Byrnes: "

Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) "Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)" is a song written by Irving Taylor and performed by Edward Byrnes and Connie Stevens. The single was produced by Karl Engemann and arranged by Don Ralke, and was featured on Byrnes' 1959 album, ''Kookie Sta ...

", a novelty spoken word number which reached #4. Stevens had her success with "Sixteen Reasons" despite her label Warner Bros. handicapping her promotion of the single: as the song was not published by MPHC (their in-house Music Publishing Holding Company), the label refused to allow Stevens to perform the song on ''Hawaiian Eye'' and also prevented her from singing it on ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television program, television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in Septembe ...

''. Although Stevens would continue to record for Warner Bros until 1972 - with a brief tenure at

MGM Records MGM Records was a record label founded by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946 for the purpose of releasing soundtrack recordings (later LP albums) of their musical films. It transitioned into a pop music label that continued into the ...

in 1968 - none of her singles subsequent to "Sixteen Reasons" would reach the Top 40; her last appearance on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 would be in 1965. Professionally Stevens has downplayed her identity as the singer of a "golden oldie", stating in 2005: "I never did 'Sixteen Reasons' in my stage act. It was really a kids' song aimed at 12-year-old girls. It would be a little silly for me to do it now."

Chart performance

It was as "Sixteen Reasons" that Stevens' single debuted at #89 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 dated 1 February 1960, peaking at #3 on the chart dated 9 May 1960. "Sixteen Reasons" crossed over to the Hot R&B Sides chart, where it went to #10. "Sixteen Reasons" also afforded Stevens a hit in the UK over the spring and summer of 1960 despite at least three

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

s. After reaching #9 - its overall UK peak - in May 1960, Stevens' single re-entered the top 20 at #17 that June, spending 12 weeks on the chart in all. Total sales for Connie Stevens' "Sixteen Reasons" single are estimated at two million units. The sheet music for the song was also a bestseller in both the US and the UK. "Sixteen Reasons" was a popular song on the

American Forces Network The American Forces Network (AFN) is a government television and radio broadcast service the U.S. military provides to those stationed or assigned overseas. Headquartered at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, AFN's broadcast operations, which i ...

in Germany that summer.

Chart positions

Cover versions

*In 1960, there were three aforementioned covers by British singers, specifically Sheila Buxton,

Shani Wallis Shani Wallis (born 14 April 1933) is a British actress and singer, who has worked in theatre, film, and television in both her native United Kingdom and in the United States. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she is perhaps best ...

and

Marion Ryan Marion Ryan (4 February 1931 – 15 January 1999) was a British singer in the 1950s in the early years of British Independent Television. She was once called "the Marilyn Monroe of popular song". Early life Born in Middlesbrough, North Ridi ...

. *In 1960 Italian singer Angelina Monti rendered "Sixteen Reasons" in German as ''Sechzehn Gründe''. *Also in 1960, Auckland-singer Esme Stephens and The Silhouettes With The

Peter Posa Peter Paul Posa (8 August 1941 – 3 February 2019) was a New Zealand guitarist most famous for his instrumental "The White Rabbit", which was released in 1963. The song is a guitar instrumental that sold 100,000 copies. Career Posa was bor ...

Combo released "Sixteen Reasons" in New Zealand on

Zodiac Records Zodiac Records has been the name of at least six different record labels: *Zodiac Records (New Zealand), an Auckland, New Zealand label of Stebbing Recording and Sound *Zodiac Records, a New York City, United States company in the 1950s *Zodiac Re ...

; coupled with a cover of

Anita Bryant Anita Jane Bryant (born March 25, 1940) is an American singer known for anti-gay activism. She scored four "Top 40" hits in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including "Paper Roses" which reached No. 5 on the charts. She was th ...

's "

Paper Roses "Paper Roses" is a popular song written and composed by Fred Spielman and Janice Torre. It first was a top five hit in 1960 for Anita Bryant. Marie Osmond recorded it in 1973 and took her version to number one on the US country chart. Anit ...

"; the single reached #5 on the Lever Hit Parade. *

The Lettermen The Lettermen are an American male pop vocal trio. The Lettermen's trademark is close-harmony pop songs with light arrangements. The group started in 1959. They have had two Top 10 singles (both No. 7), 16 Top 10 singles on the Adult Contempor ...

, who Stevens had played with as The Foremost, recorded a version of the track for their 1962 album, ''

Once Upon a Time "Once upon a time" is a stock phrase used to introduce a narrative of past events, typically in fairy tales and folk tales. It has been used in some form since at least 1380 (according to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'') in storytelling in the ...

''. *

Lawrence Welk Lawrence Welk (March 11, 1903 – May 17, 1992) was an American accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted the ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' from 1951 to 1982. His style came to be known as "champagne music" to his radio, tele ...

featured the song on his 1964 album, ''The Golden Millions''. *A comedy version was released as a double A-side on the

Laverne & Shirley ''Laverne & Shirley'' (originally ''Laverne DeFazio & Shirley Feeney'') is an American sitcom television series that played for eight seasons on ABC from January 27, 1976, to May 10, 1983. A spin-off of ''Happy Days'', ''Laverne & Shirley'' star ...

single ''

Chapel of Love "Chapel of Love" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, and made famous by The Dixie Cups in 1964, spending three weeks at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.Whitburn, Joel (2009). ''Top Pop Singles 1955-2008'' ...

'' in 1976. *Lisa Mychols remade "Sixteen Reasons" for her 1991 ''Lost Winter's Dream'' album.

Popular culture

*"Sixteen Reasons" is prominently showcased in David Lynch's 2001 film ''

Mulholland Drive Mulholland Drive is a street and road in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. It is named after pioneering Los Angeles civil engineer William Mulholland. The western rural portion in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties is nam ...

'' with actress

Elizabeth Lackey Elizabeth Lackey (born 2 March 1971), is an Australian actress sometimes credited under the name Lisa Lackey. Career Lackey grew up in Orange, New South Wales, and attended Orange High School. Lackey was working as a model before she was cas ...

, whose character lip-syncs to the Connie Stevens track.

References

{{reflist, 2 1959 songs 1959 singles Connie Stevens songs Pop standards List songs