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 charts, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart 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 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.
This was the O'Jays first release with Philadelphia International.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Cover versions

"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 due to the so-called "anti-disco backlash" at the time.
"Back Stabbers" was also covered by Stephen Cummings in 1983.