1978 Soft Rock Classic, the Band's Only No. 1 Hit, Remains a Beloved Anthem 48 Years Later
In 1978, Exile released what would become their only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100-and it remains a classic 48 years later. Decades after "Kiss You All Over" blended pop with rock, disco, and other musical influences, it is still widely played on streaming services like Spotify (over 56 million streams at the time of writing), proving its timelessness.
The band-comprising Jimmy Stokley (Lead Vocals), J.P. Pennington (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Buzz Cornelison (Keyboards), Marlon Hargis (Keyboards), Sonny LeMaire (Bass), and Steve Goetzman (Drums) at the time-was formed in Kentucky in 1963, originally going by The Exiles.
According to founding member Pennington, "There were a lot of Cuban exiles coming across … The word [exiles] was in the news, and we felt we were also somewhat ostracized from the local society. We had long hair back then," per Kentucky Monthly.
After a name change-which they famously said took place due to The Exiles sounding 'dated'-"Kiss You All Over" reached No. 1 the week of Sept. 30, 1978, and topped the charts for four weeks. It was also ranked the No. 5 top song of the year by Billboard.
Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, it was included on the group's album, Mixed Emotions. A sensual, romantic song about passion, infatuation, and physical desire, the track-inspired by Barry White's 1977 hit "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me," according to Chapman-was an "instant hit in over 60 countries. In 2010, Billboard ranked the song ninth on its list of The 50 Sexiest Songs Of All Time," according to a Facebook post shared by the band.
While a fusion of sounds defined them from inception, the band officially crossed over from rock to country in 1983, finding massive success and notching their first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart with "Woke Up in Love" in March 1984. During the height of their country era, between 1983 and 1987, the band recorded ten consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard country charts.
"The Exile sound is, perhaps, a mixture of R&B, gospel, old-style rock, with country and bluegrass touches," Hargis explained in 2018, according to Kentucky Monthly. "We've given up trying to figure it out; it's just a distinctive mix that's us. The best way to describe our sound, in my opinion, is that it's a combination of strong vocals, funky rhythms and lots of soul."
In 2025, "one of America's longest-running bands" was honored with a PBS special entitled Exile: 60 Years of Music.
"Explore the history of Exile, one of America's longest-running bands. From their rock 'n' roll roots in Richmond, Kentucky, to their 1978 pop hit 'Kiss You All Over' that topped the Billboard charts to their reinvention as a hit-making country band - this documentary chronicles Exile's story, more than six decades in the making," the synopsis reads.
Related: 1983 Soft Rock Song, Originally a Flop, Remains a Timeless Classic 43 Years Later
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This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 10:20 PM.