Wide Receiver (song)
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"Wide Receiver" is a 1980 funk/dance song by North American bass guitarist and vocalist Michael Henderson. The song was written by Henderson, along with Randall Jacobs,[1] and was the title track from the album of the same name.
Song theme and background
[edit]The song contains innuendos in the form of American football references. It also has references to marijuana ("The referee must have been smokin a joint"). Sounds from the handheld game Mattel Electronic Football were used in the introduction and background of the song. The phrase "sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't" from Mounds and Almond Joy advertising were also used in the lyrics. The phrase "Baseball's been very, very good to me on the song fade was a popular saying from Garrett Morris' Chico Escuela character portrayed on Saturday Night Live at the time. Henderson is mainly known for a style of smooth R&B heard on the quiet storm radio format; this song was his only club dance track. Ultimately, it became his biggest hit[1]. Another song from the album was "Prove It" which charted at number 27.
Chart performance
[edit]In the US, "Wide Receiver was a hit, peaking at #4 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.[2] On the Disco Top 100 chart it peaked at #42[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Wide Receiver - Michael Henderson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 252.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 120.