I’ve spent a good hour trying to find a song I really like, that I think you’ll really like too, that I haven’t already played! I can’t believe how many songs I’ve already featured here in just under two years! Not that I minded spending an hour or so listening to great music, mind you.
The O’Jays were formed in 1958 and named after Cleveland DJ Eddie O’Jay. This song, released in 1972, was their first Top 40 hit! Gene McFadden and John Whitehead wrote this song along with Leon Huff, who along with Kenny Gamble produced the track and released it on their Philadelphia International label. The song was inspired by problems Whitehead faced with his family and friends.
This song starts with a piano roll that Leon Huff played. Huff explains …
“‘Back Stabbers’ sounds like something eerie, so that roll was like something horrible, because that’s what back stabbers are. It reflected that type of drama. Our dream was to play so many counter-melodies that came with those songs, and the orchestra was able to put that together. Plus, stereo radio had just come around, and you had a lot of space to fill up. Stereo was much more soothing than mono, so we thought about the mixes we could do. The music was funky and classical at the same time.”
Backstabbers (Re-Recorded / Remastered)
The O’Jays
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
(They smilin’ in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
All you fellows who have someone and you really care, yeah, yeah
Then it’s all of you fellows who better beware, yeah yeah
Somebody’s out to get your lady
A few of your buddies they sure look shady
Blades are long, clenched tight in their fist
Aimin’ straight at your back
And I don’t think they’ll miss
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
I keep gettin’ all these visits from my friends, yeah, what they doin’ to me?
They come to my house again and again and again and again, yeah
So are they there to see my woman?
I don’t even be home but they just keep on comin’
What can I do to get on the right track?
I wish they’d take some of these knives out my back
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
Low down dirty
Smiling faces smiling faces sometimes tell lies (back stabbers)
(They smilin’ in your face)
I don’t need low down, dirty bastards (back stabbers)
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Leon Huff / Gene Mcfadden / John Whitehead
Backstabbers (Re-Recorded / Remastered) lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
Always loved this song!!!! 💙
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I’m so glad!!! ❤
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I know nothing about counter-melodies, but it all goes together for me. Not all guys, or girls, are back stabbers, yet there do seem to be quite a few.
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I only know what I like … and this is a good song. You’re right … there are a lot in both genders. I think females are better at it … girls are catty.
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You know girls better. I know guys better. Both sides are bad. But there are good people on both sides too. Life is seldom what we want it to be.
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I just remember when my kids were little, watching them play with friends. If the boys got into an argument, they duked it out for a couple of minutes, then went back to being the best of friends. The girls, however, would back bite, play stupid games, gang up on one another … never just a straightforward solution to a problem.
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Jill, great song. Wonderful music and powerful lyrics. I always remember this song as “Smilin’ in your face” instead of its real title. Keith
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Glad you liked it! I can see why you would think of it as such … I can never remember the title!
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Nearly 50 years old and still smooth.
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Hard to believe it’s been so long!!! Yeah, they’ve still got it, for sure!
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They and those dancers had some moves 👍
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Absolutely!!!
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Sssolid! 😄
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Funky and Classical at the same time. Philadelphia Sound making an attempt to come up with a Sound to rival Motown and didn’t they do well. A great record.
Cwtch
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It gets the toes tapping, doesn’t it? Jerry sent me another version, a much more recent one that I think you’ll like … they’ve still got that Midas touch!
Cwtch
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Oddly enough the lead singer reminds me very much of the original lead man on the O’Jays.
Cwtch
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Those are the O’Jays … a few years older, but same guys, I’m told. Along with Hall & Oates.
Cwtch
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WOW, just blown away! I thought that was Daryl Hall with the O’Jays, didn’t see John Oates there. The improvisational back & forth near the end was just insane! Damn those cats still got it, Bravo ❤
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Jill knows the best oldies, this song’s a winner, smooth and soulful.
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Huge *Like*! Luv the latin backbeat ❤
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You are right, Jill, a good one.
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Glad you liked it! My friend Jerry sent me a really cool version you might like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvt7ufNfq1g&feature=youtu.be
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Very cool, Jill. Thank you.
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