Back Stabbers (song)

"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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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".

"Back Stabbers"
Side A of US vinyl single
Single by the O'Jays
from the album Back Stabbers
B-side	"Sunshine"
Released	1972 (1972)
Studio	Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre	Soul[1]
Length	3:06
Label	Philadelphia International
Songwriter(s)	Leon Huff Gene McFadden John Whitehead
Producer(s)	Kenny Gamble Leon Huff
The O'Jays singles chronology
"Looky Looky (Look at Me Girl)" (1970) "Back Stabbers" (1972) "992 Arguments" (1972)
Music video
"Back Stabbers" on YouTube

This was the O'Jays first release with Philadelphia International.^[4]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Australia Kent Music Report[5]	92
Canada RPM[6]	39
UK Singles (OCC)[7]	14
US Billboard Hot 100[8]	3
US Billboard R&B Singles	1
US Cash Box Top 100[9]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1972)	Rank
US Billboard Hot 100[10]	35
US Cash Box Top 100[11]	21

Stephen Cummings version

"Backstabbers"
7-inch single Australian cover
Single by Stephen Cummings
from the album Senso
B-side	"Hardly Working"
Released	December 1983[12]
Genre	Rock, Pop
Length	3:20 5:29 (Extended Dance mix)
Label	Regular Records, Warner Music Group
Songwriter(s)	Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Leon Huff
Producer(s)	Martin Armiger
Stephen Cummings singles chronology
"Stuck on Love" (1982) "Backstabbers" (1983) "Gymnasium" (1984)
Backstabbers (Extended Dance Mix)
12 Inch Australian Single Cover

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

7"

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Backstabbers"	Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Leon Huff	3:20
2.	"Hardly Working"	Stephen Cummings, Ian Stephen	3:32

12"

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Backstabbers" (Extended Dance Mix)	Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Leon Huff	5:29
2.	"Backstabbers"	Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Leon Huff	3:14
3.	"Hardly Working"	Stephen Cummings, Ian Stephen	3:32

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)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13]	40