September
Earth, Wind & Fire
1979
Annual listening-list association, not an original-release-date field. Original release year reconciled with reviewed recording-specific Artist Essentials evidence in v3.6.
Release: 1978
Release: 1978Source checked | Recent carryover
V3.6 reconciles the original release year with the reviewed Artist Essentials entry for this exact retained recording ID. Year precision is used; an album-first release is not silently replaced by a later single, reissue or annual-list year. The original single was released in 1978, ahead of the same-year Best Of album and the retained 1979 annual appearance. Later remixes and newly recorded versions remain separate.
The large badge identifies this listening list, not a newly issued recording. Later reissues and renewed chart popularity do not replace an original release date. How years are assigned.
September - Sony/Legacy original and later version history
Label account explicitly dates the original single to 1978 before the November 1978 Best Of album, and distinguishes later 1999/2020 remixes, the Trolls version and December. It also reports co-writer Allee Willis's recollection about preserving the rhythmic refrain.
The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 - original licensed album program
Original 1978 anthology program: Love Music is a then-new recording, while earlier recordings retain their earlier source years. Fantasy is labeled Single Version here; this collection instead selects the earlier full All N All album recording.
About Earth, Wind & Fire
Song-specific inspiration or recording background is not established for this entry. This sourced artist profile provides career context.
Earth, Wind & Fire developed a sound that brings funk, soul and jazz into richly arranged popular songs. Maurice White's musical direction emphasized vocal harmonies, prominent horns and rhythms that could support both intricate arrangements and immediate melodies. That's the Way of the World, Spirit and All 'N All trace that approach through the 1970s. Songs including Shining Star and September connect positive lyrical themes with danceable grooves. Elaborate stage costumes and spiritual or Egyptian imagery added a visual dimension to the group's performances.
Artist background sources
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Earth, Wind & Fire
Supports White-led historical sound, harmonies and horns, album repertoire, affirmative themes and documented stagewear; no current membership or sales totals asserted. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
Retained annual-list context
September by Earth, Wind & Fire appears at number 78 in the reviewed U.S. year-end table for 1979. No reliable song-specific account of its inspiration was established in this review.
Annual-list context only; songwriting inspiration remains unestablished
Billboard year-end 1979 table (Wikipedia transcription)
Secondary transcription reviewed 2026-10-11: title, artist and annual chart association; not original release date or complete recording metadata.
Other appearances and versions
catalog version unspecified
Original release date and exact pressing/version are not independently established.
An annual chart year and an original release date are different. Similar titles may be covers or different masters; no audio fingerprint has been performed.
Sources and scope
Source-backed annual association (secondary source; not a complete discographic review)
Editorial artist-repertoire classification
Billboard year-end 1979 table (Wikipedia transcription)
Secondary transcription reviewed 2026-10-11: title, artist and annual chart association; not original release date or complete recording metadata.
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.