Back Stabbers

Album: Back Stabbers (1972)
Charted: 14 3
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  • Lyrics currently unavailable Writer/s: Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Leon Huff
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Comments: 13

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1972 {September 23rd} the O'Jays performed "Back Stabbers" on the nationally syndicated television program, 'Soul Train'...
    At the time "Back Stabbers" was in it's first of two weeks at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, two weeks later it would peak at #3 {for 1 week} and it spent fifteen weeks on the Top 100...
    And on September 3rd, 1972 it peaked at #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart...
    Between 1965 and 2004 the Canton, Ohio group had fifty nine records on the Hot R&B Singles chart, twenty five made the Top 10 with ten* reaching #1...
    Sadly, original member William Powell passed away on May 26th, 1977 at the young age of 35 {cancer}...
    May he and Don Cornelius {1936 - 2012} R.I.P.
    * They just missed having three more #1 records when their "Time To Get Down" {1973}, "Out Your Hands Together" {1973}, and "Don't Let Me Down" {1991} all peaked at #2...
  • Ginny White from Bay Areawho played guitar and drums on this song?
  • Markantney from Biloxi, MsJun 2014,

    William if OUR music was to pass before 3rd Grade English Teachers; we wouldn't have/had: The Beatles, The Stones, Mommas and the Poppas, George Michael, Ray Charles, James Brown, The Doors, 3Dog Night, Clapton, Mellencamp, U2, Elton John, Joplin, Bill Whiters, Bo Didley, Tina Turner, Chaka-Chaka-Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Lynrd Skynrd, Anita Baker, The 4 Tops, Stevie Wonder, and many more.

    I prefer a world where 3rd Grade English Teachers and Famous Songs/Singers/Song Writers can co-exist.
  • Ed from Canton, OhThe O'Jays are from Canton, Ohio. they even have their own road downtown named after them.
  • Angie from East Coast, VaWow. That's tragic about Whitehead. So is that comment by William N. below.
  • Ted from Phoenix, AzThe chorus of "Backstabbers," includes the lines: "They smile in yur face All the time they wanna take your place, The Backstabbers," that are a classic description of the American competitive business model. It's definitely a rat race out there and the higher up the corporate ladder you go, the more you have to worry about those "backstabbers".
  • John from Nashville, TnGene Mcfadden and John Whitehead parked themselves at Leon Huff's office at Philadelphia International Records. When Huff came out of his office to get a soft drink, the two writers followed him quoting some of the lyrics to the song. Leon liked what he heard, restructured some of the music, and a classic was born.
  • William from Naperville, IlThis song from beginning to end is a study in ebonics and wouldn't have passed a third grade English teachers desk with a passing grade.
  • Cesare from Savona, Italyit's a masterpiece
  • Shonda from Los Angeles, CaI like how Angie Stone sampled the background in here song.
  • Steve E. from Des Moines, IaProbably the most popular of the OJays tunes... did you know that the OJays were once given the keys to the City of Los Angeles!
  • Don from San Antonio, TxO my Godd!! I didn't know that (about the shooting)
  • Charles from Charlotte, NcJohn Whitehead was shot and killed in Philadelphia recently (May 11, 2004).
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