Back Stabbers
Encyclopedia
Back Stabbers is a studio album
by Philadelphia soul
group The O'Jays
, released in August 1972 on Philadelphia International Records
. Recording sessions for the album took place at Sigma Sound Studios
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
in 1972.
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 number one 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
in sales 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 2003, the album was ranked number 318 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul, sometimes called the Philadelphia Sound or Sweet Philly, is a style of soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings and piercing horns. The subtle sound of a glockenspiel can often be heard in the background of...
group The O'Jays
The O'Jays
The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1963 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert , Walter Williams , William Powell , Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005...
, released in August 1972 on Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
. Recording sessions for the album took place at Sigma Sound Studios
Sigma Sound Studios
Sigma Sound Studios is an American music recording studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia in 1968.Located at 212 N. 12th Street in Philadelphia, it was the second studio in the country to offer 24-track recording and the first in the country to use console...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
in 1972.
Reception
Back Stabbers was a breakthrough album for the group, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Pop AlbumsBillboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart and selling over 500,000 copies within a year of release. It also featured two of their most successful singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train
Love Train
"Love Train" is a hit single by the O'Jays, written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Released in 1972, it reached number one on both the R&B Singles and the Hot 100, in February and March 1973 respectively, and was certified gold by the RIAA. It was The O'Jays' first and only number-one record on...
", which hit number one on the Billboard Pop Singles
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. On September 1, 1972, the title track was certified as a gold single by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
The following year, on May 8, Back Stabbers was also certified gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
in sales 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 2003, the album was ranked number 318 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
Track listing
Album
| Title | Information |
|---|---|
| Back Stabbers |
|
Singles
| Title | Information |
|---|---|
| "992 Arguments" |
|
| "Back Stabbers" | |
| "Love Train" | |
| "Time to Get Down" |
Musicians
- The O'Jays - Vocals
- Dennis Harris - Guitar
- Bobby EliBobby EliBobby Eli is a Grammy Award winning musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia, USA. He is a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio group MFSB.-Biography:...
- Guitar - Roland Chambers - Guitar
- Bunny SiglerBunny SiglerWalter "Bunny" Sigler is a pop and R&B songwriter and record producer who has done extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and who was instrumental in creating the "Philly Sound" in the early 1970s. He is nicknamed "Mr...
- Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Producer - Norman HarrisNorman HarrisNorman Harris was an American guitarist, producer, arranger and songwriter associated with Philly soul. He was a founding member of MFSB and one-third of the production trio of Baker-Harris-Young...
- Arranger, Guitar - Ronnie BakerRonnie BakerRonnie Baker was a famous record producer, bassist, arranger and songwriter. He participated on many Gamble and Huff recordings and was one-third of the production team of Baker-Harris-Young. He was one of The Trammps, who had a #5 UK/#35 US hit with Hold Back The Night....
- Bass - Eddie LeVert - Vocals
- William Powell - Vocals
- Walter Williams - Vocals
- Lenny Pakula - Keyboards
- Leon Huff - Keyboards, Producer, Piano
- Earl YoungEarl Young (drummer)Earl Young is a Philadelphia-based drummer who rose to prominence in the early 1970s as part of the Philly Soul sound. Young is best known as the founder and leader of The Trammps who had a hit record with "Disco Inferno". Young, along with Ronnie Baker and Norman Harris, was the owner of the...
- Drums - Don Renaldo - Conductor, Horn, Strings
- Thom Bell - Arranger, Strings, Producer
- Larry Washington - Bongos, Percussion
- Vincent Montana, Jr. - Percussion, Vibraphone
Additional personnel
- Kenneth Gamble - Producer
- Tony Martell - Executive Producer
- Adam Block - Director
- Joe TarsiaJoseph TarsiaPhiladelphia-based recording engineer Joe Tarsias skills can be heard on a significant number of classic pop music tracks, earning him over 150 gold and platinum record awards. He was also the founder and owner of the legendary Sigma Sound Studios...
- Engineer - Leo Sacks - Reissue Producer
- Tony Sellari - Art Direction
- Bobby Martin - Arranger
External links
- The O'Jays Profile at About.comAbout.comAbout.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
- 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 YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....