Sweet Little Sixteen

Sweet Little Sixteen is a Chuck Berry classic of rock and roll, released early in 1958. It deals with young girls who are obsessed fans of rock and roll -- a subject that would become a Beatles staple in the early years. They performed a cover of this song during the Cavern Club days and in Hamburg. For the sixth edition of the BBC's Pop! Go the Beatles program on July 10, 1963 the Beatles made the only recording that has been released, with John singing the lead. This performance can be found in the Live at the BBC collection. Bootlegs of a December 1962 performance at the Star-Club in Hamburg have been in circulation.

The song is notable because the Beach Boys sang an almost identical song (Surfin' USA), and after a lawsuit, the writing credit is shared between Chuck Berry and Brian Wilson. Jerry Lee Lewis covered the song, and recorded a duet version with Ringo Starr, which appeared on Last Man Standing.