Back Stabbers (song)

"Back Stabbers" is a 1972 song by the O'Jays. Released from the hit album of the same name, the song spent one week at number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It was also successful on the pop chart, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1972.[1] The narrator in "Back Stabbers" warns men about their male "friends" who smile to their faces, but are secretly planning to steal their wives or girlfriends.[2] It was also inspired by an earlier hit with a similar theme, the Undisputed Truth's "Smiling Faces Sometimes", the chorus of which is quoted at the end of the song. It was part of the soundtrack for the 1977 movie, Looking for Mr. Goodbar.

"Back Stabbers"
Side A of US vinyl single
Single by The O'Jays
from the album Back Stabbers
B-side"Sunshine"
ReleasedAugust 1972 (1972-08)
Genre
Length3:06
LabelPhiladelphia International
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The O'Jays singles chronology
"Looky Looky (Look at Me Girl)"
(1970)		 "Back Stabbers"
(1972)		 "992 Arguments"
(1972)

This was the O'Jays first release with Philadelphia International.[3]

Chart performance

Weekly charts
Chart (1972) Peak
position
Australia KMR[4] 92
Canada RPM[5] 39
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 3
US Billboard R&B 1
US Cash Box Top 100[8] 1

Year-end charts
Chart (1972) Rank
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 35
US Cash Box Top 100[10] 21

Cover versions
"Back Stabbers"
Single by Tina Turner
from the album Love Explosion
Released1979 (1979)
Genre
Length3:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Alec R. Costandinos
Tina Turner singles chronology
"Love Explosion"
(1979)		 "Back Stabbers"
(1979)		 "Music Keeps Me Dancin'"
(1979)

The song was sampled in the 1973 break-in record, "Super Fly Meets Shaft" (US #31).

"Back Stabbers" is the second single from the 1979 album Love Explosion by Tina Turner. The song, along with the other two singles released from Love Explosion, was largely disco-oriented and was overlooked by audiences both in Europe and the United States.

"Back Stabbers" was also covered by Stephen Cummings in 1983.

In 2020, emerging Japanese pop star, Fujii Kaze covered "Back Stabbers" in the special edition of his debut album, Help Ever Hurt Never.[11]

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Joel Whitburn Presents Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles, 1942-2004. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research. p. 438. ISBN 978-0-89820-160-4.
  2. Ankeny, Jason. "Back Stabbers" at AllMusic. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  3. "The O'Jays | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  4. "Australian Chart Books". Australianchartbooks.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2016-10-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  7. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  8. "Archive". Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  9. "Musicoutfitters.com". Archived from the original on 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  10. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 30, 1972". Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  11. "藤井風 – Help Ever Hurt Never (2020, CD)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.


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