Exile had earned a reputation as an effective touring band that had never earned much in the way of commercial success. But they were open to trying new things and engaging with new collaborators if that’s what it took to break through. When they connected with a songwriting/producing duo with a proven track record, they stumbled upon a massive hit. That hit was Exile’s “Kiss You All Over”, a 1978 yacht rock classic with more than a little disco flavor.
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A Long Struggle
Exile began as The Exiles in Kentucky in 1963. Interestingly enough, two of the key members of Exile who would help them make “I Wanna Kiss You All Over” some 15 years later were in place very near the start. Singer Jimmy Stokley and guitarist J.P. Pennington withstood a lot of lineup and style changes, as well as the shortening of the band’s name in the 70s.
Weirdly enough, Exile released just two albums in their first decade-and-a-half of existence. Both of those albums (Exile and Stage Pass) arrived in the same calendar year of 1973. At the time, Exile wrote little of their own material, which they mostly performed in a kind of Southern soul style.
Both those albums failed, and they lost their record deal. Exile headed back to the Southern circuit of clubs and bars, wondering if they’d get another chance to record. They wisely kept making demos, and one of those demos would earn them their shot at stardom.
Chinnichap’s “Kiss”
Mike Chapman had earned his reputation through his songwriting efforts with partner Nicky Chinn. Together, the pair had helped lift the band Sweet out of obscurity into glam-rock superstar status. They pulled off the same feat with American rocker Suzi Quatro.
Chapman liked what he heard from Exile, contacting them to see if they’d like to record with him. The band jumped at the chance, but the first song they recorded with him did nothing. Luckily, Chapman gave Exile another chance and offered them “Kiss You All Over”, which he had written with Chinn.
As producer, Chapman worked up an arrangement that hinted at a little soft rock, a little R&B, and a little disco. He also relentlessly badgered the band until he got the vocal blend right. It ended up being a combination of Stokley, Pennington, and bassist Danny Williams. “Kiss You All Over” brought the little-known band into the limelight, reaching no. 1 in 1978.
Behind the Lyrics of “Kiss You All Over”
“Kiss You All Over” doesn’t try to hide from the fact that it’s a boudoir song. The narrator is making his desires known: “Oh, babe I want to taste your lips / I want to fill your fantasy.” These are come-ons of which Barry White would be proud.
Falsetto vocals pop up in the bridge and the chorus to amplify the message. “Stay with me, lay with me,” the narrator pleads. The refrain stakes the narrator’s claim: “I wanna kiss you all over / And over again.” And then that great kicker: “Till the night closes in.”
Exile didn’t have staying power on the pop charts. They’d eventually reinvent themselves in the following decade as a country band. It was no surprise that they could make that leap. After all, “Kiss You All Over” combined just about every style of music into one unforgettable hybrid hit.
Photo by Bill McClintic – 90 East Photography
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