Not Fade Away (song)

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"Not Fade Away"

Single by Rush
B-side(s)	"You Can't Fight It"
Released	1973
Format	7" single
Recorded	1973
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	3:18
Label	Moon Records
Writer(s)	Buddy Holly, Norman Petty
Producer(s)	David Stock
Rush singles chronology
None	Not Fade Away	Finding My Way 1973

"Not Fade Away" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and performed by Holly; the song's rhythm pattern is one of the classic examples of the Bo Diddley beat. Cricket's drummer Jerry Allison pounded out the beat on a cardboard box. It was first recorded with Buddy Holly's band The Crickets in Clovis, New Mexico, in May 1957, originally appearing on the B side to Holly's hit "Oh, Boy!" The Crickets were no strangers to the Bo Diddley beat -- they had already covered Diddley's "Bo Diddley" -- but with "Not Fade Away" they made the rhythm their own, thanks to drummer Jerry Allison. Allison, Holly's best friend, also claims to have written most of the lyrics, though his name never appeared in the songwriting credits. In 2004, this version of the song was ranked #107 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

In 1964, The Cover "Not Fade Away" became the first song the Rolling Stones ever released in the U.S.

Holly's recording never charted as a single. However, The Rolling Stones scrubbed it up and made it into one of their first hits. It has also been covered by many other groups. The Grateful Dead recorded it, and played it 530 times in their long concert career, making it their seventh-most played song. The Bobby Fuller Four covered it during their short career. It was Rush's first single. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and James Taylor have played it in concert. 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 Truth is Stranger Than Fishen album. Steve Hillage recorded a version which closes his solo album Motivation Radio.

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.

1 Rolling Stones version
- 1.1 Personnel
2 Rush version
- 2.1 Personnel

[edit] Rolling Stones version

The Rolling Stones version of "Not Fade Away" was one of their first classic hits. Recorded in late January of 1964, it was their first Top 5 hit in Great Britain, reaching #3. It was also the first single release of The Stones in the United States by London Records, reaching only into the mid-40's on the US charts. It was also placed as the opening track of their first US album, England's Newest Hitmakers. It was a mainstay on Stones tours throughout their early years,usually opening a show. It was revived in that capacity for the 1994 Voodoo Lounge Tour.

[edit] Personnel

Mick Jagger - vocals, percussion
Keith Richards - Lead guitar
Brian Jones- Rhythm guitar, harmonica, perscussion
Bill Wyman - Bass guitar
Charlie Watts - drums

v • d • e The Rolling Stones

Mick Jagger • Keith Richards • Charlie Watts • Ron Wood

Brian Jones • Bill Wyman • Mick Taylor • Ian Stewart

Related articles

Discography • The Glimmer Twins • Jagger/Richards • Nanker Phelge • Rolling Stones Records • Rock and Roll Circus

Categories

The Rolling Stones • Members • Albums • Singles • Songs • Tours

[edit] 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.