‘September’ is not EWF’s biggest hit; it’s not even the biggest song about September (though you wouldn’t know it today)

(September 2, 2024).  It’s September again and you know what that means. 

It’s the month of Earth, Wind & Fire and their year-round classic “September,” which will no doubt see a spike in its streams and downloads as it kicks off the new month in what has become an annual tradition — especially in a few weeks when we flip the calendar to that date that’s famously name-checked in the song’s opening verse (“do you remember…the 21st night of September?”).

Indeed, the annual return of the year’s ninth month is a chance to enjoy in large group settings Philip Bailey’s famous “ba-dee-yah” falsetto wrapped around that sweet infectious chorus, alternating with the late Maurice White’s baritone remembrances of a September-to-December romance that ended too soon.

Many folks are surprised when they learn that although “September” was a huge hit in late-1978/ early 1979 — it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Soul Singles chart, before that list was renamed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in recent decades, and No. 8 on the Hot 100, then mostly a pop chart — “September” is not the biggest hit by the Elements of the Universe on either list.

It’s not even in their top five, at least chart-wise. 

Earth, Wind & Fire had five singles peak higher on the Hot 100 than “September” did in February 1979 (yes, it’s true the wistful dance classic about a love affair that bridged summer and fall peaked in the dead of winter!).

In fact, “September” (whose three writers — Al McKay, Allee Willis and White — the latter two of whom are now deceased) wasn’t even released in that month.  It came out in November 1978 and entered the Hot 100 on Nov. 18.  It petered out at No. 8 in Feb. ‘79 while bigger hits like “Le Freak,” “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy,” “I Will Survive” and “Y.M.C.A.” — among others — out-performed it.

But back to EWF’s catalog and where “September” ranks in terms of chart performance, here are the band’s singles that outdid the now-iconic tune during each song’s original release cycle, first on the pop chart:

1. “Shining Star” (No. 1, 1975)
2. “After the Love Has Gone” (No. 2, 1979)
3. “Let’s Groove” (No. 3, 1981-82)
4. “Sing A Song” (No. 5, 1976)
5. “Boogie Wonderland” (No. 6, 1979)

And like “September,” all five of those songs were certified million-sellers (as were several other EWF singles back in the day).

Even on Billboard’s weekly soul rankings where “September” reached No. 1 for one week, there were also five songs by the Elements that spent longer time at the top:

1. “Let’s Groove” (8 weeks, 1981-82)
2. “Serpentine Fire” (7 weeks, 1977)
3. “Sing A Song” (2 weeks, 1976)
4. “Getaway” (2 weeks, 1976)
5. “Shining Star” (2 weeks, 1975)

It stands to reason that “September” has grown in stature over the past 46 years, with the song being so popular today that it is now synonymous with its namesake month.  The 21st of September has even been declared “Earth, Wind & Fire Day” in some municipalities and in internet circles.  And, in 2018, the classic tune was recognized in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.”

Today, it is easily the band’s most streamed song, outpacing “Let’s Groove” by nearly 3-to-1 in total Spotify streams where it currently stands at 1.7 billion clicks (as of Sept. 2).

Yet while it may surprise casual fans that “September” wasn’t the Chicago-based band’s biggest chart hit (or even in their top five), it may be a shock to even more folks that there are at least a half-dozen songs by other artists that name-check the month of “September” — either by title or lyrics — which out-performed the omnipresent EWF classic.

Here is a recap — ranked in order of chart performance  — of the tunes this blogger could identify (there may be more out there, which readers are encouraged to provide in the comments below).

Rank.  “Title” – Artist (Hot 100 peak, year: key “September” lyric):

1. “Maggie May” – Rod Stewart (No. 1, 1971: “it’s late September and I really should be back at school”)
2. “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” – Temptations  (No. 1, 1972: “It was the third of September, that night I’ll always remember…”)
3. “If Wishes Came True” – Sweet Sensation (No. 1, 1990: “when you kissed me in the warm September rain…”)
4. “Sign ‘o’ the Times” – Prince (No. 3, 1987: “in September my cousin tried reefer for the very first time, now he’s doing horse…it’s June”).
5. “See You In September” – The Happenings (No. 3, 1966: title line)
6. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” – Green Day (No. 6, 2005: title line).

It’s a musical irony as sweet as a September breeze: Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” is the infectious feel-good anthem that makes folks of all ages want to shake their booties, one that is easily the band’s signature tune today, yet it wasn’t their biggest hit.  It’s the “Don’t Stop Believin’” or “Bohemian Rhapsody” of the soul music world.  It’s like being the life of the party even if it wasn’t the guest of honor.

As for the “September” songs by Rod Stewart, the Temptations, Prince, Green Day and the others, none of those could’ve ever done for this month what EWF’s celebratory funk anthem has.  They lamented the year’s ninth month, lyrically tying it to breakups, drug abuse, philandering dads, and a father’s death.  Some have even associated Green Day’s modern rock classic with the  9/11 terrorist attacks. 

It seems September would be a tough month for any one song to dominate, even when you’re Rock and Roll Hall of Famers like Earth, Wind & Fire.  But their “September” is proof that, eventually, the funkiest feel-good jams will have their day.

Or month, in this case!

DJRob

DJRob (he/him) is a freelance music blogger from the East Coast who covers R&B, hip-hop, disco, pop, rock and country genres – plus lots of music news and current stuff!  You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @djrobblog and on Meta’s Threads.

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