On this day in music history: September 30, 1978 - Kiss You All Over by Exile hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 4 weeks. Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, it will be the biggest hit and only pop crossover success for the country rock band from Richmond, KY. Australian born songwriter and producer Mike Chapman (Sweet, Mud, Smokie, Suzi Quatro, Blondie, The Knack) will meet the band after seeing them play a gig near their hometown in 1976. Liking what he hears, he signs on as their producer. Chapman will write their first chart hit Try It On (released on Atco Records) which will peak at #97 on the Hot 100 in March of 1977. Exile will be dropped from Atco and is signed to Warner/Curb later in the year. The producer and songwriter will bring them the song Kiss You All Over, co-written with longtime songwriting partner Nicky Chinn. Exile will come up with their own arrangement after hearing the basic demo recording. Released as the first single from their second album Mixed Emotions, it will quickly become a smash. Entering the Hot 100 at #85 on July 8, 1978, it will climb to the top of the chart twelve weeks later. After their initial pop success, Exile will revert back to their country roots in the 80s. They will produce a string of major hits on the Billboard Country singles charts, topping that chart ten times between 1983 and 1987, including the classics Woke Up in Love and Shes Too Good To Be True. Lead singer J.P. Pennington will also write songs that will be hits for other artists including The Closer You Get and Take Me Down, both chart toppers for country superstars Alabama. Exile will disband in 1990 after nearly three decades together, but will reunite in 1995 with founding members J. P. Pennington, Les Taylor and other musicians. Kiss You All Over is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:16:22 +0000
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