Back Stabbers is a studio album by Philadelphia soul group The O'Jays, released in August 1972 on Philadelphia International Records and the iTunes version was released and reissued under Epic Records via Legacy Recordings. Recording sessions for the album took place at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1972.
Reception
Back Stabbers was a breakthrough album for the group, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Pop Albums chart and selling over 500,000 copies within a year of release. It also featured two of their most successful singles, "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train", which hit #1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. On September 1, 1972, the title track was certified as a gold single by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The following year, on May 8, Back Stabbers was also certified Gold by the RIAA. It has gained the reputation as a landmark album of early 1970s soul and has been cited by critics as "the pinnacle of Philly soul." In 2012, the album was ranked #318 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
It was voted #754 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).
Trivia
The song Back Stabbers was featured on the Looking for Mr. Goodbar (film) soundtrack
The song Back Stabbers was featured on the Carlito's Way soundtrack, which was found and collected as evidence from O. J. Simpson's white Ford Bronco.
Track listing
Personnel
The O’Jays
Eddie Levert
Walter Williams
William Powell
Musicians
Dennis Harris – guitar
Bobby Eli – guitar
Roland Chambers – guitar
Bunny Sigler – guitar, piano, producer
Norman Harris – arranger, guitar
Ronnie Baker – bass guitar
Lenny Pakula – organ
Leon Huff – producer, piano
Earl Young – drums
Don Renaldo – conductor, horns, strings
Thom Bell – arranger, strings, producer
Larry Washington – bongos, congas, percussion
Vincent Montana Jr. – percussion, vibraphone
Production and design
Kenneth Gamble – producer
Tony Martell – executive producer
Adam Block – director
Joe Tarsia – engineer
Leo Sacks – reissue producer
Tony Sellari – art direction
Bobby Martin – arranger
Thom Bell - arranger
Charts
Weekly charts
Singles
References
External links
The O'Jays Profile at About.com
Acclaimed Music profile – Back Stabbers: Ratings, Best of All-time Lists, Best of Decade Lists, etc. The O'Jays "Back Stabbers" on Soul Train at YouTube