SEE IT & HEAR IT: Earth, Wind & Fire celebrate ‘September’ with new Eric Kupper remix
Earth, Wind & Fire has gotten some new life breathed into one of their biggest classics.
The six-time Grammy Award-winning band has released a new remix of its 1978 hit “September,” coinciding with the news that the single has been certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The updated track, which was remixed by acclaimed producer Eric Kupper, is available now as a digital download and via streaming.
In March, the Bronx native master multi-instrumentalist and producer previously worked his magic a new remix of Diana Ross' disco classic “Love Hangover,” which catapulted to No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart.
That success led to him being commissioned to take on Earth, Wind & Fire’s timeless tune, which has become an official anthem of September.
Brad LeBeau of the New York-based ProMotion marketing firm commissioned the sought-after tunesmith to handle the chores.
“He asked me to do the mix back in early August based on my work with Diana Ross,” Kupper told The Daily News on Thursday.
His other remixes, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough 2017,” “I’m Coming Out / Upside Down 2018,” and last year’s “The Boss 2019,” were also chart-toppers.
Though the actual track was distributed to DJs as a promo in early September, it comes out just before Sept. 21, which late Earth, Wind & Fire frontman Maurice White references in the opening of the song, which he penned along with late songwriter and composer Allee Willis.
“It was such an honor and a pleasure to work with Earth, Wind & Fire, they have been a huge influence and part of my musical journey,” Kupper, 58, continued.
“My approach to remixing this timeless classic was to keep the elements that made this record so special to begin with,” he furthered. “For example, the first step for many remixers would be to replace the drums and bass. Verdine White’s bass line in the song is so iconic to me, I left it in, and beefed it up sonically, for a modern dance mix. Even the drums, while I replaced them, I kept a similar groove to the original, while imparting a house flavor. I added new live percussion, courtesy of Carlos ‘Go Go’ Gomez, one of the best in the planet.”
Kupper began his career playing in bands and, by the mid-1980s, was working as a keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter for such producer/remixers as David Morales, Frankie Knuckles, Arthur Baker and more.
To date, he has played on, remixed, and/or produced over 2,000 records for artists spanning all contemporary musical genres.
In addition to the remix, a new video for the song has premiered at Earth, Wind & Fire’s official YouTube channel Thursday, combining footage of the iconic band performing the tune with photos of the group and some cosmic animation.
To celebrate the remix’s arrival, a virtual party hosted by Brooklyn-based hip-hop producer DJ Spinna will be streamed at Earth, Wind & Fire’s YouTube channel on Sept. 21 from 7 p.m. EDT– 10 p.m. EDT.
Dubbed the “21st Night of September,” the event will feature appearances by core group members Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson, as well as some special guests.
“September” was originally released in November 1978 as part of the compilation “The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1.”
The song, which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped Billboard’s R&B singles chart, has gone on to become a beloved party anthem.
Throughout the years, it has been remixed and covered numerous times.
In 2014, the Chicago-formed band released a holiday-themed version of the tune, retitled “December,” as part of its Christmas opus, “Holiday.”
Last year, Earth, Wind & Fire made history as the first African American R&B act to become recipients of Kennedy Center Honors.
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