This song was written and recorded during the "Viva Hate" sessions which stretched from October to December 1987 at Wool Hall Studios in Bath, with producer Stephen Street. Musicians on the recording were Vini Reilly (guitar), Stephen Street (bass) and Andrew Paresi (drums).

album version {3:12}

• "Viva Hate" album, original edition

• "Viva Hate" album, EMI Centenary edition

• "Viva Hate" album, redesigned edition [remastered 2012]

This song has never been performed specifically for radio, television or the web.

The song has been performed live 127 times by Morrissey (possibly 128 times because one 1991 setlist is unknown). It was done 28 times (likely 29 times) on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour, a setlist regular after its live introduction in July, halfway into the tour. The song was a fixture on the following year's Your Arsenal tour (done 52 times out of 56 dates). After being absent for a decade, it was played every single night on the 2002 tour with no name.

live London 4 October 1991 {2:20}

• cd-single and USA 12" of "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful"

• "The HMV/Parlophone Singles '88-'95" album

live Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre 31 October 1991 {?:??}

• "Your Arsenal" album, redesigned edition bonus DVD

No demos or studio outtakes of this song have leaked to the general public at this point in time.