I Wish I Was Eighteen Again

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

Contents

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
Studio Filmways/Heider Recording, Hollywood, California
Genre Country
Length3:40
Label Elektra 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
Studio Sound Stage Studios
Nashville, Tennessee
Genre Country
Length3:22
Label Mercury 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 Contemporary19
Canada RPM Country8

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References

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  11. "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard . Retrieved June 23, 2020.
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