| Saturday Nite | |
| Cover: | EWF - Saturday Nite.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Earth, Wind & Fire |
| Album: | Spirit |
| B-Side: | Departure |
| Released: | 1976 |
| Recorded: | 1976 |
| Genre: | R&B, funk |
| Length: | 4:03 (album version) 3:42 (7" Version) |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Producer: | Maurice White |
| Prev Title: | Getaway |
| Prev Year: | 1976 |
| Next Title: | On Your Face |
| Next Year: | 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]
"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.
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]
"Saturday Nite" was sampled by the Spice Girls on their 1996 single "Say You'll Be There".[9]
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 21 |
| US Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart | 17 |