Back Stabbers cover

Back Stabbers

Released

The two big hits on the O’Jays first outing for Gamble/Huff powerhouse Philadelphia International Records are as thematically disparate as anything — the “it’s not paranoid if they’re really out to get you” tension of the god-tier title cut (that piano intro alone!, and the closing salvo of soul-unites-the-planet anthem “Love Train,” which respectively nail early-decade, pre-Watergate “smiling faces” anxiety and anticipates (or invents) late ’70s discomania. The rest of it, from the pristine bowtie-funk of “When the World’s At Peace” to the floating-in-space regret ballad “Who Am I,” sound like the top ten hit singles they inexplicably weren’t but should’ve been.

Nate Patrin

Recommended by

Suggestions
The Salsoul Orchestra cover

The Salsoul Orchestra

The Salsoul Orchestra
One Down cover

One Down

Material
The Meters cover

The Meters

The Meters
Whip It cover

Whip It

Treacherous Three
Puzzle People cover

Puzzle People

The Temptations
Butt of Course… cover

Butt of Course…

The Jimmy Castor Bunch
Super Bad is Back cover

Super Bad is Back

Various Artists
Hell cover

Hell

James Brown
Gratitude cover

Gratitude

Earth, Wind & Fire