September – Earth, Wind & Fire | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#8) & R&B (#1); 1979
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
As Earth, Wind & Fire approached its fourth anniversary as a charting band, they finally broke big time when Shining Star hit #1 R&B and pop in the spring of 1975. Star marked the start of an R&B streak that added three more chart toppers through 1978.
Mainstream radio was slower on the uptake, finally jumping on the EW&F bandwagon in mid-1978 with Got To Get You Into My Life. The across-the board action propelled EW&F into 1979, the L.A. ensemble’s peak year.
September kicked things off, becoming the second R&B #1 of the year (following Cheryl Lynn’s Got To Be Real). It was written by founder/co-lead vocalist Maurice White, guitarist Al McKay, and songwriter Allee Willis.
Willis also co wrote the follow-up to September, Boogie Wonderland, which reached #2 R&B and #6 pop. EW&F closed out 1979 with its third crossover smash, After The Love Is Gone.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Charles Stepney
- Maurice White
Lyrics Written by:
- Al McKay
- Maurice White
- Allee Willis
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).