"I Wish I Was Eighteen Again" is a song written by Sonny Throckmorton in 1979.[1][2]

Jerry Lee Lewis version

"I Wish I Was Eighteen Again"
Single by Jerry Lee Lewis
from the album Jerry Lee Lewis
A-side"Rockin' My Life Away"
ReleasedMarch 1979
Recordedearly January 1979
StudioFilmways/Heider Recording, Hollywood, California
GenreCountry
Length3:40
LabelElektra Records E-46030
Songwriter(s)Sonny Throckmorton
Producer(s)Bones Howe

Jerry Lee Lewis originally recorded the song for his self-titled album in 1979. It was released as the B-side of "Rockin' My Life Away".[3][4]

The song was a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Country chart, peaking at No. 18.

Chart performance

Chart (1979) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Country Singles[5] 18

George Burns version

"I Wish I Was Eighteen Again"
Single by George Burns
from the album I Wish I Was Eighteen Again
B-side"One Of The Mysteries Of Life"
ReleasedDecember 1979
RecordedOctober 31, 1979
StudioSound Stage Studios
Nashville, Tennessee
GenreCountry
Length3:22
LabelMercury Records 57011
Songwriter(s)Sonny Throckmorton
Producer(s)Jerry Kennedy
George Burns singles chronology
"I Wish I Was Eighteen Again"
(1979) 		"The Arizona Whiz"
(1980)

A year later, comedian-actor George Burns covered the song for his 1980 album of the same title. The song was also featured in the 1988 film 18 Again!, in which Burns starred.[6][7][8][9]

Burns' cover slightly missed the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 49. However, it was a Top 40 hit on the Easy Listening and Country charts. Despite being his only entry to both charts, it did better than Lewis' version in the Country chart, peaking at No. 15.

Chart performance

Chart (1980) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 49
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[11] 25
US Billboard Hot Country Singles[12] 15
Canada RPM Top 100 25
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary 19
Canada RPM Country 8

Ray Price version

Ray Price covered the song for his 2014 posthumous album Beauty Is... The Final Sessions.

References

  1. ^ Bronson, Fred (October 23, 2018). "60 Actors Who Have Played Leading Roles on the Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  2. ^ Braddock, Bobby (2020). Country Music's Greatest Lines. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9781439669549. Retrieved June 23, 2020 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Bronson, Fred (April 18, 2011). "Jerry Lee Lewis at Third Man Records". Nashville Scene. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  4. ^ Millard, Bob (September 30, 1999). Country Music. Da Capo Press. ISBN 9780306809033. Retrieved June 23, 2020 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again (Lewis-Country)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  6. ^ "Good News in History, April 20". Good News Network. April 20, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Rayno, Don (December 19, 2012). Paul Whiteman: Pioneer in American Music, 1930-1967. Scarecrow Press. p. 366. ISBN 9780810883222. Retrieved June 23, 2020 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Slide, Anthony (March 12, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. University Press of Mississippi. p. 78. ISBN 9781617032509. Retrieved June 23, 2020 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Labov, William; Browne, Ray Broadus; Browne, Pat (2001). The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Popular Press. p. 126. ISBN 9780879728212. Retrieved June 23, 2020 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  11. ^ "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  12. ^ "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again (Burns-Country)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
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