You’ll Never Walk Alone / We Call On Him 

Modified: August 5, 2023

Artist: Elvis Presley
Release: RCA Victor 47-9600 You'll Never Walk Alone / We Call On Him (45)
Release Date: 3/26/1968

47-9600-cover-side147-9600-cover-side2

Cover: picture sleeve front and back.

47-9600-side2-ylp47-9600-side1-ylp

Disc: Yellow label. NOT FOR SALE. Catalog number not in bold font. Matrix number above time.
Matrix numbers: UPKM-2773–5S A1 / UPKM-2772–4S A2 (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)

47-9600-side1-ylp47-9600-side2-ylp

Disc: Yellow label. NOT FOR SALE. Catalog number in bold font. Matrix number below catalog number. Side 2 matrix number not in parenthesis, Gladys Music is in parenthesis.1
Matrix numbers: UPKM-2773–5S A1 / UPKM-2772–4S A2 (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)1

Thanks to the keen eye of collector PatrickM.; this is a fake! The font is incorrect. The placement of the parenthesis is incorrect on one side. There is a white paper edge. The paper stock is incorrect.

47-9600-side1-ylp 598x60047-9600-side2-ylp 590x600

Disc: Yellow label. NOT FOR SALE. Catalog number in bold font. Matrix number below catalog number. Side 2 matrix number is in parenthesis, Gladys Music is in not parenthesis.3
Matrix numbers: UPKM-2773–7S / UPKM-2772–8S (machine stamped) (Hollywood pressing)
Matrix numbers: UPKM-2773–8S / UPKM-2772–8S (machine stamped) (Hollywood pressing)4

47-9600-side2-r47-9600-side1-r

Disc: Black label, dog on side. YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE on one line. Credits on one line. On both sides, music information on left side on three lines.
Matrix numbers: UPKM-2773–2S A1 / UPKM-2772–3S (machine stamped) (Rockaway pressing)
Matrix numbers: UPKM-2773–4S / UPKM-2772–5S (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)
Matrix numbers: UPKM-2773–5S A2 / UPKM-2772–4S A1 (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)

47-9600-side1-h47-9600-side2-h

Disc: Black label, dog on side. YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE on two lines. Credits on two lines. On both sides, music information on left side on four lines.
Matrix numbers: UPKM-2773–7S / UPKM-2772–8S (Hollywood pressing)

47-9600-side2-197147-9600-side1-1971

Disc: Orange label. (circa. 1970)5
Matrix numbers: UPKM-2773–5S / UPKM-2772–4S (Indianapolis pressing)6

The UPKM-2773 is directly below the catalog number, like the red label of 12/1970. However, compare all other orange labels, regular release Elvis for 1968 and 1969 and it can be seen that the take will be directly below the music publisher and above the time. This take is in an odd place for an orange label. The placement of UPKM-2773 label is consistent with Elvis beginning with April 1970 with 47-9835. An RCA release from 2/1970 with catalog 47-9810 places the take number directly below the catalog number. Also, 2/1970 catalog 47-9806 places the take number under the music publisher and above the time. I would place this copy between 2/1970 and 12/1970. A reasonable guess would place this more likely around 3/1970 to promote the sacred albums on the back as well as this title for Easter. There are distinct differences between the this orange label and the red label 447-0665 in cases and commas or no commas so I would not consider this a transitional label. Paul Dowling of Worldwide Elvis has independently confirmed in this analysis and opinion.

This record sold on Aug. 27, 2016 for $675 on eBay7. The description offers some insight into it’s reason for existence. “One of a kind orange label We Call on Him / You’ll Never Walk Alone 47-9600 made in the USA. This is not a gold standard release, the original was a black label DOS, the guy I got it from said his dad worked for RCA in Indianapolis and this could have been a trial printing to see what the new orange label was going to look like and that this could possibly be the very first RCA 45 to be printed on the new upcoming orange label. Record is very good shape not mint on a scale of 1 to 10 it is an 8 also comes with an original picture sleeve.7

Re-released by RCA Records on 45 RPM as You'll Never Walk Alone / We Call On Him on the Gold Standard Series label.

  1. eBay reference 371646378218 (June 19, 2016)
  2. eBay reference 371646378218 (June 19, 2016)
  3. Images from a collection of Internet images that date back to 1998.
  4. eBay reference 371599653107 (June 19, 2016)
  5. Images from the collection of Lee K.
  6. Matrix numbers from the collection of Lee K.
  7. eBay reference 162175330296 (Aug. 27, 2016)
  8. eBay reference 162175330296 (Aug. 27, 2016)