Written by:
Mark E. Smith, Craig Scanlon, Steve Hanley
 
Initial release:
15 Ways, Cog Sinister/Permanent, 10SPERM14 10";  12SPERM14 12"; CDSPERM14 CD
 
Date:
18 April 1994
 
Subsequent releases:
Middle Class Revolt, Cog Sinister/Permanent;  PERMLP16 LP;  PERMMC16 Cassette;  PERMCD16 CD; 3 May 1994 (album version a bit different to single version)
Middle Class Revolt, Artful,  ARTFULCD23; 5 July 1999
Middle Class Revolt, Castle/Sanctuary, CMQDD1226 CD; 13 March 2006 (including Peel session,  Drum Club Prozac Mix; The Drum Club Orange in the Mouth remix; Rex Sargeant Mix )
 
Officially released live versions:
15 Ways to Leave Your Man, Receiver RRCD239 CD; 11 August 1997 (recorded at the Astoria, London; 26 June 1996)
 
Radio Session:
Mark Goodier session; Recorded 1 May 1993, broadcast 17 May 1993 (not officially released)
 
Group on initial recording:
 
Mark E Smith - vocals; Craig Scanlon - guitar; Steve Hanley - bass, Dave Bush - keyboards; Simon Wolstencroft - drums, keyboards;  Karl Burns - drums
 
First played live:
7 May 1993 Manchester
 
Last played live:
24 April 2004 Chicago
 
Number of known performances:
47
 
 
Commentary;
This song has a fairly odd live history. According to records, it was played 4 times during 1993, the year before its release, but very spread out thoroughout the year, 29 times in 1994, 8 times in 1996, once the following year, and then on 4 occasions in 2004. It was an obvious response or comment on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", and MES himself commented re women's magazines (Ted Kessler: Mark E Smith: Heroes & Villains, NME, 11 December 1993): "those that go on about how to tell if your old man's having an affiar and how to subsequently screw him up."
 
Video link: 15 Ways