Not Fade Away

"Not Fade Away" is a song credited to Buddy Holly and Norman Petty (although Petty's co-writing credit is most likely a formality^[1]) and first recorded by Holly's band The Crickets in Clovis, New Mexico, in May 1957. The song's rhythm pattern is one of the classic examples of the Bo Diddley beat; Crickets drummer Jerry Allison pounded out the beat on a cardboard box.^[1] Allison, Holly's best friend, also claims to have written part of the lyrics, though his name never appeared in the songwriting credits. Originally released as the B-side to the hit "Oh, Boy!", "Not Fade Away" was also included on the album The "Chirping" Crickets. It was also the last song Buddy Holly ever performed, the night before his fatal plane crash.

In 2004, this song was ranked number 107 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. However, The Crickets' recording never charted as a single.

Cover versions

"Not Fade Away"
Single by The Rolling Stones
B-side	"Little by Little" (UK) "I Wanna Be Your Man" (US)
Released	February 21, 1964 (UK) March 6, 1964 (US)
Format	7"
Recorded	January 10, 1964 Olympic Studios, London, England
Genre	Rock and Roll
Length	1:48
Label	Decca F11845 (UK) London 45-LON 9657 (USA)
Writer(s)	Norman Petty, Charles Hardin
Producer	Andrew Loog Oldham
The Rolling Stones singles chronology
"I Wanna Be Your Man" (1963) "Not Fade Away" (1964) "Tell Me" (1964)

The Rolling Stones version

In 1964, The Rolling Stones' cover of "Not Fade Away", with its strong emphasis on the Bo Diddley beat, became a major hit in Britain and served as the A-side of the band's first US single.

The Rolling Stones version of "Not Fade Away" was one of their first classic hits. Recorded in late January of 1964 and released by Decca on February 21, 1964, with "Little by Little" as the B-side, it was their first Top 5 hit in Great Britain, reaching #3.^[2] In March 1964 it was also the Rolling Stones' first single release in the United States, on the London Records label, with "I Wanna Be Your Man" as the B-side (briefly preceded by "Stoned", which had immediately been withdrawn). The single reached #48 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.^[3] "Not Fade Away" was not on the UK version of their debut album, The Rolling Stones, but was the opening track of the US version released a month later as England's Newest Hitmakers. It was a mainstay at Rolling Stones concerts in their early years, usually opening the shows. It was revived in that capacity for their 1994-95 Voodoo Lounge Tour.

Personnel

• Mick Jagger - vocals, percussion
• Keith Richards - guitars
• Brian Jones - harmonica, percussion
• Bill Wyman - Bass guitar
• Charlie Watts - drums
• Phil Spector - maracas^[3]

Rush version

The Rush version of "Not Fade Away" was their debut single, released in 1973. The B-side of this single, "You Can't Fight It," was the first original song Rush released. The single is rare and highly sought-after by collectors. Neither one of these songs was ever (officially) released on CD.

Personnel

• Geddy Lee - lead vocals and bass guitar
• Alex Lifeson - guitars and vocals
• John Rutsey - drums and percussion

Other cover versions

"Not Fade Away" has been covered by many other groups. The Grateful Dead recorded it, and they performed it 530 times in their long concert career, making it their seventh-most performed song. A version is available on Rare Cuts and Oddities 1966. The Bobby Fuller Four covered it during their short career. It was Rush's first single. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jon Bon Jovi, Patti Smith and James Taylor have played it in concert. Taylor finally recorded it on his 2008 album Covers. Similarly, Freddie Mercury performed it a couple of times, himself playing guitar and singing, as an intro to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". Trout Fishing in America have a seven-minute cover on their 1990 Truth Is Stranger than Fishin album. Steve Hillage recorded a version which closes his solo album Motivation Radio. Joe Ely sometimes played the song live, as recorded on his Live Shots album.

Besides the Rolling Stones, two other artists have had chart hits in the U.S. with this song: Tanya Tucker in 1979, and a new wave-ish take by British artist Eric Hine in 1981.

The Supremes recorded a version in 1964, which went unreleased until 2008, when it was released on the album collection Let The Music Play: Supreme Rarities 1960-1969. The Supremes based their version on The Rolling Stones 1964 recording.

The Everly Brothers recorded the song on their 1972 RCA Victor album Pass the Chicken & Listen.

Hank Marvin of The Shadows recorded the song on his 1996 album Hank Plays Holly.

Noel Redding performed the song live in concert in 1998 and 1999 backed by 3:05 AM, releasing two versions on the 2004 album West Cork Tuning.

In the Deep Purple-Extended Versions Live Compilation CD, part of this song is played in the middle of a Highway Star performance on the first "Highway Star" on the CD.

The Bees covered the song in 2006.

In 2007, the song was covered by Sheryl Crow as part of a Revlon haircolor commercial promoting their Colorist product, implying their color will "not fade away." This cover is available exclusively on iTunes with net proceeds to benefit the fight against breast cancer.

The Beatles, who were avid fans of Holly, recorded an unreleased version of this song.

Quicksilver Messenger Service, Dick Rivers, Roger Matura, Dick & Deedee, Black Oak, Stephen Stills, Corporate Image, Joe Pass, Group Axis, Raw, The End, and Connie Francis have also recorded the song.

Media uses

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (August 2008)

In the 2007 film, Ghost Rider, The Rolling Stones version of this song is heard in the background while Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) is trying to catch up to the news vehicle that Roxanne Simpson (Eva Mendes) is in.

The Rolling Stones version of the song was used in one of the many Samuel Adams beer commercials.

The song title was used as the title for the final episode of the TV series Angel.

Bruce Springsteen references a line from the song in his song "Pink Cadillac". In "Not Fade Away", Holly wrote: "My love is bigger than a Cadillac." In "Pink Cadillac", Springsteen wrote: "My love is bigger than a Honda/My love is bigger than a Subaru."

In the Boy Meets World episode titled "Rave On", a version of "Not Fade Away" is performed by former Monkees Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones.

In the Black Sabbath song "N.I.B.", Geezer Butler modified Buddy Holly's line "Your love for me got to be real, for you to know just how I feel" to: "Your love for me has just got to be real, before you know the way I'm going to feel".

A TV commercial in the 1980s for Scotch blank video tapes featured a skeletal character rapping along to the riff of "Not Fade Away", using the words "I'm gonna tell you how it's gonna be, With Scotch's lifetime guarantee. Tape what you want, both night and day, Then re-record, not fade away, re-record, not fade away, re-record, not fade away..."

References

1. ^ ^{a b} (DVD, 1987) The Real Buddy Holly Story. White Star Studios. 
2. ^ Rolling Stones "Not Fade Away" reaches no.3 in UK singles chart. [1] retrieved 08/19/2007
3. ^ ^{a b} Carr, Roy, The Rolling Stones, an Illustrated Record New English Library, London 1976