Too Young (Sidney Lippman and Sylvia Dee song)


"Too Young" is a popular song. The music was written by Sidney Lippman, the lyrics by Sylvia Dee. The song was published in 1951.
In the United States, the best-known version of the song was recorded by Nat King Cole on February 6, 1951 and released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1449. It was a million-selling record and reached the #1 position on the Billboard chart, staying at #1 for 5 weeks and altogether on the Best Seller chart for 29 weeks. Billboard ranked this version as the No. 1 song of 1951. Cole described this song as one of his three favorites among his own songs.
Several contemporary versions were also recorded, making the charts but not as high.

Cover versions

The recording by Patty Andrews was released by Decca Records as catalog number 27569. It first reached the Billboard Best Seller chart on June 8, 1951 and lasted 1 week on the chart, peaking at #30. On other Billboard charts, this version reached as high as #19.
Versions that did not make the top 30 best-seller list, but did chart on other Billboard charts were by Toni Arden, by Fran Allison, by Richard Hayes, and by Michael Jackson 1973.
Semprini, piano with rhythm accompaniment recorded it in London on July 7, 1951, as the second song of the medley "Dancing to the piano : Part 1. Hit Medley of Slow Foxtrots" along with "Alice in Wonderland" and "Forbidden Love". It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10123.
In the United Kingdom, Jimmy Young had a hit version of the song, also made in 1951. Sam Cooke recorded it for his Hits of the Fifties LP 1960. In Australia, on Parlophone, Jim Gussey And His Orchestra, with vocals by Matt Dryden and Olive Lester.

Donny Osmond cover

A version of "Too Young" by 14-year-old Donny Osmond became an international Top 10 hit for him, reaching #5 in the UK and #6 in Canada. It also spent eight weeks on the U.S. Top 40, with a peak position of #13 when released as a single in 1972.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Trivia

In Akira Kurosawa's 1952 film Ikiru, protagonist Watanabe's daughter-in-law is heard humming the tune in a point-of-view scene in which the character is approaching the family home late at night.