Identifying the exact pressing
and version of a record.
If you search Discogs for "Fleetwood Mac - Rumours" you will get over 500 results, each one for a different pressing. To ensure you log the correct version - or to check the real value of a record in your hand - you need to know that you’re looking at the correct entry…
Artist Name & Album Title
The least helpful, this usually stays the same across all versions.
Catalogue Number
Short numbers usually found somewhere near the record company logo.
Record Label
Shows the most useful information in one place. Slight variants in colours, designs, typos, and layouts can also be useful.
Label matrix / runout numbers
Between the paper label and the end of the groove. Usually the catalogue number, with extra digits after to differentiate specific pressings.
Colour
Modern releases & re-pressings are often batched in unique and specific colours, splatters, designs. Each edition is usually listed separately in discogs.
Other things to check…
Barcode (modern only) - Most albums from the late 80s onwards have a barcode, although not all are unique for each version.
Year of (re)pressing - usually appears on the back of jacket in the small print. Not to be mixed up with the original copyright / trademarked release year.
Country of pressing - huge releases and re-releases are often pressed in multiple countries.
Visual cues - going from the pictures on Discogs - you can sometimes pick out things like a specific sticker on the jacket. The paper record labels often have different colours or designs.
Most Discogs entries have plenty images of the covers & labels - check against those.