Palmer stated in interviews when the song came out as a single that he heard the original, by a young female R&B singer Cherrelle, and initially liked it until he realized she was under age at the time of the recording, 16 or 17 I believe, a fact that combined with the lyrics was distasteful for him. He decided to record the song himself in part as a joke, thinking it would be very tongue in cheek, almost sarcastic, for near 40 year old man to sing it (he was 38 at the time). He never expected Island records to issue it as a single and was more surpised when it became a Top 10 Hit in both the US & UK.
Palmer stated in interviews when the song came out as a single that he heard the original, by a young female R&B singer Cherrelle, and initially liked it until he realized she was under age at the time of the recording, 16 or 17 I believe, a fact that combined with the lyrics was distasteful for him. He decided to record the song himself in part as a joke, thinking it would be very tongue in cheek, almost sarcastic, for near 40 year old man to sing it (he was 38 at the time). He never expected Island records to issue it as a single and was more surpised when it became a Top 10 Hit in both the US & UK.