Released October 15 1977 as the lead single from the album All 'N All, "Serpentine Fire" spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart from December 3 1977. The single also crossed over to the Pop-oriented Billboard Hot 100 charts with a #13 peak.

A music video was prepped to promote "Serpentine Fire" featuring the band performing in a supposed pyramid.

The song was written by founding band members Maurice White and Verdine White in collaboration with Reginald "Sonny" Burke. Earth Wind & Fire vocalist Philip Bailey later commented on the "serpentine fire" metaphor: "Maurice [White] at that point in time in our career was studying a lot of metaphysics and a lot of Eastern philosophy, and the 'Serpentine Fire' – I’m not an expert on that whole thing, because I had to ask him myself [to explain] – but it's actually the sex drive – or sexual impulse". Although Maurice White was evidently responsible for the song's title, Earth Wind & Fire keyboardist/musical director Larry Dunn credits the song's "basic premise" to Sonny Burke a veteran arranger and keyboardist featured on many R&B recordings although his only credited connection with Earth, Wind & Fire is as the co-writer of "Serpentine Fire".

Instrumental versions of "Serpentine Fire" have been recorded by Jimmy Smith (album Unfinished Business/ 1978) and by Tom Scott (album Them Changes/ 1990). Bassist Nathan East released a version featuring Earth, Wind & Fire members Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson in 2016.

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