Back Stabbers - The O'Jays (1972) 9/19/22

When the O'Jays released today's "Great Song of 1972, people couldn't help but wonder if one of the guys was having some sort of personal and/or marital problem.

Turns out it was John Whitehead, who wrote "Backstabbers" with Gene McFadden and Leon Huff who was either suffering from a bout of paranoia, regretting his choice of friends, or both.

The song centers around the idea that you shouldn't let your male friends hang out with your wife or girlfriend---because you can't trust them.

The topic was rather serious, but the song was so catchy and upbeat, you couldn't help but enjoy it.

According to producer Kenny Gamble, "Backstabbers" was a complex hybrid of Philadelphia soul and classical music, mixed in such away that when played in stereo, you heard a number of counter melodies.

All that aide, radio listeners just plain LIKED the song! When it was released from the O'Jays' album of the same name, "Backstabbers" topped Billboard's Soul Chart, and climbed to #3 on the Hot 100.

Hey, if you're gonna be paranoid, you might as well turn it into a Great Song...right?