In 1975, Neil Sedaka scored the biggest hit of his career with “Bad Blood,” a song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and helped complete his major comeback in the middle of the decade.
But years later, the song’s co-writer, Philip Cody, admitted he never believed the track would become a success.
“Bad Blood,” written by Sedaka and Cody, featured uncredited backing vocals from Elton John and became Sedaka’s third No. 1 single overall. It was released during a strong comeback period for the singer after his early 1960s chart success had faded during the British Invasion.
According to Songfacts, Cody revealed that he considered “Bad Blood” his “least favorite song” that he wrote with Sedaka. The lyricist said he wanted to rewrite parts of the track, but Sedaka had already entered the studio with Elton John before any changes could be made.
American songwriter, pianist and singer Neil Sedaka on stage at the Colston Hall in Bristol.Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
“I didn't like it, and I thought, ‘Okay, what are we doing next?’” Cody told Songfacts in a later interview. “And I just moved on. I thought, ‘That's probably going nowhere.’ And I was absolutely wrong.”
By the time “Bad Blood” arrived in late 1975, Sedaka’s career revival was already underway. Earlier that year, “Laughter in the Rain” became a No. 1 hit, while songs like “The Immigrant” and “That’s When the Music Takes Me” returned him to pop radio.
Sedaka’s partnership with Elton John played a major role in that comeback. John signed Sedaka to Rocket Records after becoming a longtime fan of the singer-songwriter’s earlier work. The move helped reintroduce Sedaka to American audiences after he rebuilt momentum in the United Kingdom.
“Bad Blood” stood out because it sounded very different from Sedaka’s softer pop hits. The song mixed swampy rock grooves, blues-inspired rhythms, and sharper lyrics that gave Sedaka a rougher image than fans were used to hearing.
Billboard described the song as a “harder-edged” hit that modernized Sedaka’s sound during the peak of the 1970s music scene.
Elton John’s backing vocals also became one of the song’s defining features. Though he was not officially credited on the single, listeners quickly recognized his voice throughout the track. His call-and-response harmonies with Sedaka on the chorus helped make the song instantly memorable.
The collaboration turned into a huge commercial success. “Bad Blood” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Oct. 11, 1975, and stayed there for three weeks. The song was eventually certified Gold in both the United States and Canada.
Ironically, the single that replaced “Bad Blood” at No. 1 was Elton John’s own hit, “Island Girl.”
While the song became Sedaka’s biggest-selling release, Cody admitted he was never fully satisfied with the lyrics.
The songwriter explained that the idea for “Bad Blood” came from stories told by his Sicilian grandmother about superstition and people believed to have evil in their blood. Cody said the concept reflected old family beliefs he had tried to distance himself from growing up.
“I just thought it would be an interesting way to approach a lyric,” Cody said. “Rather than from a place of enlightenment the idea is that love makes us stupid.”
Still, Cody believed the song needed more work.
“I did it, and I didn't think I did a very good job on it,” he explained. “Before I had a chance to do a re-write Neil was in the studio with Elton doing the song, and that was it.”
Despite his doubts, listeners connected with the record immediately. The song became the biggest commercial hit of Sedaka’s career and remains one of his signature tracks decades later.
“Bad Blood” also marked an important point in Sedaka’s second act as a pop star. After years away from the top of the charts, the singer suddenly found himself competing alongside some of the biggest artists of the 1970s.
The track appeared on Sedaka’s album The Hungry Years and continued to gain popularity on classic hits radio long after its chart run ended.
Sedaka, who died in February 2026 at age 86, was widely remembered for both his early pop classics and his remarkable comeback era. “Bad Blood” remains one of the defining songs from that successful return to the spotlight.
Related: 1972 Classic, Written While Recovering From Surgery, Became a No. 1 Hit for Four Weeks
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