The song was originally recorded by the Buddy Holly's band The Crickets in Clovis, New Mexico, on May 27, 1957. The Rolling Stones version, with a strong emphasis on the Bo Diddley beat, was recorded on January 10, 1964 at the Olympic Studios, London, England. Such sessions also saw the visit and occasional inputs of Graham Nash and Allan Clarke from the Hollies, as well as Phil Spector and Gene Pitney who incidentally were in London.
Backed with 'Little By Little', 'Not Fade Away' would be the band's UK third single and their first Top 5 hit in Great Britain. The track stayed in the UK charts for 15 weeks.

This track would also be the band's first single release in the United States, on London Records, with 'I Wanna Be Your Man' as the B-side - briefly preceded by 'Stoned', which had immediately been withdrawn.

Unlike its B-side, 'Not Fade Away' was unavailable on the first UK eponymous album out in April 1964, but it was the opening track of the US debut LP 'England's Newest Hitmakers' released a month later.
Of course, it has been released on many compilation albums since.
As the previous singles, this one was exported to Scandinavia to be housed by two different Danish covers, as well as a unique Swedish one.

The track 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.

Ironically the Stones' version, unlike the original, chooses to fade-out on the 'not fade away' lyric.

Picture sleeves from around the world

149 editions worldwide include 'Not Fade Away' on the 7" format.