Kiss You All Over

"Kiss You All Over" is a 1978 song performed by the group Exile. It was written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. It was included on the band's album Mixed Emotions, and it featured Jimmy Stokley and guitarist JP Pennington on lead vocals. It was a number one single in the United States, but proved to be Exile's only big hit in the pop rock market. Billboard ranked it as the No. 5 song for 1978.^[1] In the United Kingdom, the song was released on Mickie Most's RAK Records, and there it peaked at number 6.^[2] In this song, a string synthesizer is used.

Lead vocals on the song Stokley was ousted from the band in 1979, his health declining thereafter until he died at the tragically young age of 41 in 1985. The band moved into Country music following the synth-pop success of "Kiss You All Over" and the 1979 follow-on hit "You Thrill Me" (reaching #40 (UK no. 67)) and "How Could This Go Wrong", #88 on the charts. "Take Me Down" peaked at #3 on the Euro Hit 40 in the mid-'80s.

Cover versions

• 1978: A version by Jim Mundy and Terri Melton made number 87 on the Hot Country Songs charts.
• 1978: A Disco version was covered by Broadway
• 1979: Along with the track "So Strange", Phyllis Hyman covered this song and had a minor disco hit, peaking at number 75.
• Also in 1979, Millie Jackson covered this song for her album A Moment's Pleasure and it was released as a single in Europe.
• 1982: A lovers rock version by Samantha Rose produced by reggae producer Winston Curtis was recorded in London.
• 1993: Tiffany released a version on her Asia-only album Dreams Never Die. The album (and song) were re-released in the U.S. in 2005.^[3]
• 1997: The band No Mercy's remixed version by Johnny Vicious and Darrin "Spike" Friedman reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.^[4] It also reached #16 on the UK Singles Chart and #47 in Australia.
• 2013: On the album Love Will..., Trace Adkins recorded a cover version with Exile (J.P. Pennington and Les Taylor).

Appearances in other media

The song was featured in the films Happy Gilmore, Wild Hogs,Man on the Moon and Employee of the Month. It was also used in 2007 on CBC's Hockey Night In Canada during a montage of Stanley Cup celebrations at the conclusion of the final game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

References