I Wish I Was Eighteen Again

"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"
Released	March 1979
Recorded	early January 1979
Studio	Filmways/Heider Recording, Hollywood, California
Genre	Country
Length	3:40
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 number 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"
Released	December 1979
Recorded	October 31, 1979
Studio	Sound Stage Studios Nashville, Tennessee
Genre	Country
Length	3:22
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 number 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 number 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

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.