"Back Stabbers" is a 1972 song by the O'Jays. Released from the hit album of the same name, it spent one week at number 1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It was also successful on the pop chart, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1972. 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. It was 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 this song. It was part of the soundtrack for the 1977 movie Looking for Mr. Goodbar. In 2002, the song was sampled by R&B artist Angie Stone for her single "Wish I Didn't Miss You".
This was the O'Jays first release with Philadelphia International.
Chart performance Weekly charts Chart (1972) PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report92Canada RPM39US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 3US Billboard R&B Singles1US Cash Box Top 1001
Year-end charts Chart (1972)RankUS Billboard Hot 10035US Cash Box Top 10021 Stephen Cummings version
In 1983 Australian singer-songwriter Stephen Cummings released Backstabbers in December 1983 through the Regular Records label as the third single from the album Senso. Cummings version peaked at number 40 on the Kent Music Report.
Track listing
Personnel Greg Flood – brass arrangements Joe Creighton – bass, additional vocals Mark Ferry – bass Vince Jones – cornet (solo) Martin Armiger – drum programming (Drumulator), guitar, keyboards Peter Luscombe – drums Andrew Pendlebury – guitar Robert Goodge – guitar Duncan Veal – keyboards Jantra de Vilda – keyboards Stephen Bigger – keyboards Ricky Fataar – percussion Venetta Fields – additional vocals Nick Smith – additional vocals Linda Nutter – additional vocals Nick Smith – additional vocals Stephanie Sproul – additional vocals
Charts Chart (1983)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.40
References
External links [ Song review] on AllMusic