Life / Only Believe 

Modified: February 3, 2025

Artist: Elvis Presley
Release: RCA Victor 47-9985 Life / Only Believe (45)
Release Date: 5/25/1971

47-9985-cover-side147-9985-cover-side2

Cover: picture sleeve front and back.

Disc: Yellow label. NOT FOR SALE. On the LIFE side, right side, END: Cold on one line. Not For Sale in small font on one line and capitalized.1

47-9985-side2-ylp47-9985-side1-ylp

Disc: Yellow label, marked “NOT FOR SALE” but capitalized as “Not For Sale.”
“Life”: Right side, “END: Cold” on one line. “Music, Inc.,” with commas.
“Only Believe”: Right side, “The Rodeheaver” on one line.
Matrix numbers: ZPKM-1613-4S A3 / ZPKM-1626-3S A2 (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)

47-9985-side1-h-ylp47-9985-side2-h-ylp

Disc: Yellow label, marked “NOT FOR SALE” in all caps, on two lines, on both sides.
“Life”: Right side, “END: Cold” on two lines. “Music Inc.” without commas.
“Only Believe”: Right side, “The Rodeheaver” on two lines.2
Matrix numbers: ZPKM-1613-5S / ZPKM-1626-3S (machine stamped) (Hollywood pressing)3

47-9985-side147-9985-side2

Disc: Orange label. On the LIFE side, right side, Music Inc. without commas. On the ONLY BELIEVE side, right side, The Rodeheaver on two lines.
Matrix numbers: ZPKM-1613-1S A1D / ZPKM-1626-1S A4A (hand etched) (Rockaway pressing)
Matrix numbers: ZPKM-1613-2S A2C / ZPKM-1626-2S A3C (hand etched) (Rockaway pressing)
Matrix numbers: ZPKM-1613-5S / ZPKM-1626-6S (Hollywood pressing)4

47-9985-side147-9985-side2

Disc: Orange label. On the LIFE side, right side, Music, Inc., with commas. On the ONLY BELIEVE side, right side, The Rodeheaver on one line.
Matrix numbers: ZPKM-1613-4S A3 / ZPKM-1626-3S A2 (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)

Re-released by RCA Records on 45 RPM as Life / Only Believe on the Gold Standard Series label.

  1. eBay reference 130793995945 (November 28, 2012)
  2. Images from the collection of DarylR.
  3. Matrix numbers from the collection of DarylR.
  4. Matrix numbers from the collection of Roberto.