Released from the hit album of the same name, it spent one week at number 1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.

[2] The narrator in "Back Stabbers" warns men about their male "friends" who smile to their faces, but are secretly planning to steal their wives or girlfriends.

[3] It was inspired by an earlier hit with a similar theme, the Undisputed Truth's "Smiling Faces Sometimes", the chorus of which is quoted at the end of this song.

In 2002, the song was sampled by R&B artist Angie Stone for her single "Wish I Didn't Miss You".

[4] In 1983 Australian singer-songwriter Stephen Cummings released Backstabbers in December 1983 through the Regular Records label as the third single from the album Senso.