Released on November 18, 1978, “September” is probably Earth, Wind & Fire’s most popular song. Even people largely unfamiliar with the band’s work have heard it. Forty-six years after its release, the song still gets tons of play–it’s blasted at weddings, school reunions, sporting events, parties, family cookouts, fairs, political conventions, etc. The song is an exhilarating mix of R&B, dance, jazz, and funk. The hook-laden track has an uplifting, feel-good vibe that resonates with people of all ages. It begins gently with light guitar, keyboards, and percussion, and then a powerful horn volley blasts the song into high gear. Maurice White delivers a rich, soulful vocal performance, while his brother Verdine bolsters the groove with his superb bass work. Philip Bailey’s shimmering falsetto lights up the song’s irresistible chorus; and the track also features some great percussion and an incredible horn arrangement.
“September” is a joyous slice of autumn nostalgia. It’s about remembering the good times of the past. But it is also about appreciating and celebrating all of the blessings presently in your life: “Now December/Found the love that we shared in September/Only blue talk and love, remember/The true love we share today.”
"September" was written by Maurice White, EWF guitarist Al McKay, and songwriter Allee Willis. McKay created the song’s musical framework in his home studio. He discussed how he came up with it in a 2018 interview with Spotify: “It was one of those mornings," he said. “I came downstairs feeling really good. [I] went to my studio, set up a groove, and it just came piece by piece. I brought it to Maurice, and he liked it right away. Then he said, ‘Play it again.’ And I kept playing it for him. The last time he looked at me, and he sang, ‘Do you remember’.”
While McKay and White were working on the song’s intro, Wills was brought in to add more lyrics among other refinements and tweaks. In a 2014 interview with NPR, Willis discussed her experience working on “September”: “And as I walked in the studio, they are working on an intro to a song, and I hear the happiest sounding music I have ever heard in my life! And I remember thinking, ‘Dear God, let this be what he wants me to work on!” Willis initially objected to the “ba-dee-ya” lyrics on the chorus and begged White to rewrite them because she felt they were nonsensical gibberish. But he wouldn’t budge and made it clear that it didn’t matter if certain lyrics didn't make sense as long as they worked in service of the groove. “I learned my greatest lesson ever in songwriting from him, which was never let the lyric get in the way of the groove,” she said. Willis added that the date September 21st mentioned in the song has no significant meaning, and they picked it simply because it sounded the best. "We went through all the dates: 'Do you remember the first, the second, the third, the fourth ... ' and the one that just felt the best was the 21st," she explained.
“September” was produced by White and Charles Stepney and released on ARC/Columbia Records. It was included on the band’s greatest hits album The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 (released on November 23, 1978). The song topped Billboard’s R&B singles chart and peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also performed well on the charts globally, making the top 10 in the UK (#3), Norway (#6), Ireland (#8), France (#6), and Canada (#8). And it cracked the top 20 in several other countries. The song has sold more than two million digital copies in the U.S. alone and has been certified six times platinum by the RIAA.
“September” has had a significant cultural impact. The timeless classic has been embraced by two generations of music lovers. It has become a fall anthem and made September 21st an unofficial holiday, with leading cities declaring it “Earth, Wind & Fire Day.” Fans even hold “21st night in September” parties worldwide on that date. Additionally, sales for “September” spike every year on September 21st. The song has also become a popular football chant in the UK at many clubs. In 2018, it was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry list of sound recordings that “are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.” Rolling Stone placed it at # 65 on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list in 2021.
“September” has been featured on numerous film soundtracks, including Soul Food (1997), Night at the Museum (2006), and Robot Dreams (2023). The Emmy-nominated HBO film Dancing in September (2000) was named after a lyric in the song. “September” has also been featured in TV shows, video games, and commercials. It has been sampled on 68 songs and covered by a slew of artists, including Kirk Franklin, Taylor Swift, and John Tesh. Also, Justin Timberlake and actress Anna Kendrick recorded a duet of “September” for the soundtrack of the animated musical jukebox comedy Trolls (2016).
The personnel for “September” was Maurice White (lead and background vocals, production), Philip Bailey (lead and background vocals, congas), Verdine White (bass, background vocals), Al McKay (electric guitar, background vocals), Andrew Woolfolk (soprano saxophone), Larry Dunn (keyboards), Ralph Johnson (drums, percussion), Johnny Grahm (guitar), Fred E. White (drums) and the Phenix Horns: Louis Satterfield (trombone), Rahmlee Michael Davis (trumpet), and Michael Harris (trumpet).
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