Saturday Nite

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"Saturday Nite"
Single by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album Spirit
B-side"Departure"
Released1976
Recorded1976
GenreR&B, funk
Length4:03 (Album Version)
3:42 (7" Version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Maurice White, Al McKay, Philip Bailey
Producer(s)Maurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire singles chronology
"Getaway"
(1976)
"Saturday Nite"
(1976)
"On Your Face"
(1977)

"Saturday Nite" is a song by R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire which was issued as a single in 1976 by Columbia Records.[1] The song reached numbers 4 and 21 on Billboard Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts, respectively.[2][3] "Saturday Nite" also rose to No. 17 on the UK Singles chart - their first hit in the United Kingdom.[4]

Overview[edit]

"Saturday Nite" was written by Maurice White with Philip Bailey and Al McKay. The single's b-side is a tune called Departure. Both songs came from EWF's 1976 studio album Spirit.[1]

Critical reception[edit]

Blues and Soul called Saturday Nite a "gem".[5] Cashbox noted that "shouting 1,2,3,4 - horns come wailing in followed by a snappy synthesizer. The vocals are full, the group utilizes a winning variety of vocal styles, funky and smooth".[6] Music Week also described Saturday Nite as "easy-paced, and much more of a two hander, with the wonderful Maurice White..trading vocals with (Philip) Bailey, while the backing track is powerful and brassy."[7] Record World said it is "in an uptempo groove that is fine for any nite."[8]

Samples[edit]

"Saturday Nite" was sampled by the Spice Girls on their 1996 single "Say You'll Be There".[9]

Chart positions[edit]

Chart (1976)[2][3][4] Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 21
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles 4
UK Singles Chart 17

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Earth, Wind & Fire: Saturday Nite. Columbia Records. 1976.
  2. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: Saturday Nite (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com.
  3. ^ a b "Earth, Wind & Fire: Saturday Nite (Hot 100)". billboard.com.
  4. ^ a b "Earth Wind & Fire - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Saturday Nite". No. 218. Blues and Soul. February 1, 1977. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  6. ^ "Singles". Vol. 38, no. 24. Cashbox Magazine. November 13, 1976. p. 36. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. ^ "Product Reissues". Music Week. September 26, 2014. p. 53. ProQuest 1693679438.
  8. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 13, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  9. ^ Spice Girls: Say You'll Be There. Virgin Records. October 1996.

External links[edit]