Often mistaken for the other, 'repress' and 'reissue' are not synonymous terms–but aren't mutually exclusive. The differences between a repress and reissue are an often conflated, and when it comes to albums with multiple similar but unique releases, it is important to understand which is applicable.

According to Discogs, the differences between reissues and repressings are as follow:

Reissue And Repress

The 'Reissue' tag can be used when:
- - used on the release itself
  - the release is referred to as a reissue by the artist, label or other official sources.

It can also be used where the content of the release is not the first issue of the work.
This is generally independent of the format - a CD can be a reissue of an LP.
It can also be independent of country, but take into account that a work may have its initial releases at different times in different countries
- In general don't use the tag if there is only a short time period (roughly less than 18 months) between the issues.

Reissue should not be used where the work does not appear in its original form, for example, singles that combine two hits together, or CD's that combine two albums, unless the release itself uses that term.

The 'Repress' tag can be used when
- - used on the release itself
  - the release is referred to as a repress by the artist, label or other official sources.
- You can also use the tag when you can state a good reason for doing so in the release and / or Submission Notes.
- A repress must originate from the original master disc, and the term is only applied to formats that are stamped or pressed out, such as vinyl and CD. The 'Reissue' tag can be used in other circumstances, see the guideline for the correct usage of that tag.

'Reissue' and 'Repress' can be used together.

Additionally, it is widely agreed that reissues sometimes have artwork with updated text, logo, barcodes, etc. However, slight differences such as shades of colors do not necessarily constitute a unique release.

Here are some examples of reissues and repressings:

Example 1: folklore by Taylor Swift

This example is arguably the most complicated on this list because of the extended list of subsequent releases after the 2020 original. In order of release, these are the most common releases of the 'in the trees' edition of folklore in the United States:

November 2020 - Brown Marbled, Made in France
July 2021 - Beige Marbled, Made in the USA
July 2021 - Beige Opaque, Made in the Czech Republic
January 2022 - Gold Opaque, Made in Canada
January 2022 - Gold Opaque, Made in the Czech Republic
August 2023 - Brown Marbled, Made in France

Part 1: Why It's a Reissue:

Original 2020 Brown Marbled pressing

The original cover for 'folklore' featured the following details:

'taylor swift' written on rear top left cover
'folklore' written over back cover tracklist

2021/2022 Beige/Gold Opaque pressings

The subsequent releases from 2021 and 2022 no longer featured the original text.

'taylor swift' missing on rear top left cover
'folklore' missing over back cover tracklist

2023 Brown Marbled Pressing

The 2023 pressing brought back the details from the 2020 pressing:

'taylor swift' written on rear top left cover
'folklore' written over back cover tracklist

Because the 2021/2022 and 2023 pressings were released after the original 2020 release, they are considered reissues.

Part 2: Why It's a Repressing:

Upon analyzing the runouts for the original 2022 compared to the new 2023 pressing, it is evident that the 2023 pressing is a repress.

Runouts for the 2020 release

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 00602435034881-A (2) M1 RKS STERLING [MPO Logo]®20 182072
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 00602435034881-B (2) [MPO Logo]®20 179997 RKS STERLING
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): 00602435034881-C (2) RKS STERLING
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): 00602435034881-D (2) RKS STERLING [MPO Logo]®20 178173

Runouts for the 2023 reissue

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 00602435034881-A (2) M1 RKS STERLING
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 00602435034881-B2 P1M2 JN-H STERLING [MPO Logo]®23 302831
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): 00602435034881-C (2) M6 RKS STERLING [MPO Logo]®23 302737
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): 00602435034881-D (2) RKS STERLING [MPO Logo]®23 302736

Given the fact that the 2023 runouts:

feature the same catalog number
shows that is was also (partially) mastered by RKS (Ryan K. Smith) at Sterling Sound
shows that is was pressed by MPO

it therefore is eligible for both reissue and repress status. Because of the fact that Side B is newly-cut by JN-H for this release, clarification is needed in the notes to explain that Side A, Side C, and Side D are repressings and Side B is not.

Example 2: Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey

In September of 2023, the Urban Outfitters exclusive variant of Ultraviolence was re-released on Lana Del Rey's online webstores in celebration of the album's 9th anniversary. It was marketed as a D2C (direct to consumer) release and not available in-stores.
The 2023 release featured a number of noteworthy differences to the original 2014 release:
- Different catalog no. on spine of jacket and labels.
- Different runout information (new stampers)
- This version was pressed at GZ Media in Czech Republic; first pressing was pressed at United in Nashville.
- The translucent blue LP appears less translucent.
- The violet vinyl is opaque rather than translucent.
- No Urban Outfitters hype sticker to the shrink.

Part 1: Why It's a Reissue:

Because of the fact that the release took place 9 years after the original release, it is considered a reissue. Additionally, it featured a different catalog number on the spine–new text is enough to qualify this release as a reissue.

Part 2: Why It's Not (Technically) a Repress:

Upon analyzing the runouts for the original 2023 compared to the new 2014 pressing, it is evident that the 2023 pressing is not technically a a repress.

Runouts for 2014 Urban Outfitters release:

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): B002095001LP01-A WG/NRP ⓤ
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): B002095001LP01-B Ⅱ WG/NRP ⓤ
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): B002095001LP02-A WG/NRP ⓤ
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): B002095001LP02-B WG/NRP ⓤ

Runouts for 2023 D2C reissue:

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 265541E1 1673029 00602537869353-A
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 265541E2 1708334 00602537869353-B
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): 265541E3 1709315 00602537868360-A
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): 265541E4 1674107 00602537868360-B

Given the fact that the 2023 release:

has runouts featuring different catalog numbers
has runouts showing that it was pressed by GZ media instead of United Record Pressing
was pressed on different color vinyl

it ineligible for official repress status. However, the online webstores officially marketed the 2023 D2C release a repress, allowing the term to be used (albeit incorrectly).

Example 3: Lust For Life by Lana Del Rey

In Novmeber of 2023, the Urban Outfitters exclusive variant of Lust For Life was re-released on Lana Del Rey's online webstores in celebration of the album's 6th anniversary. It was marketed as a D2C (direct to consumer) release and not available in-stores.
The 2023 release featured a number of noteworthy differences to the original 2017 release:
- Different catalog no. on spine of jacket and labels.
- Different runout information (new stampers)
- The vinyl is a duller green translucent color than the original green transparent.
- No Urban Outfitters hype sticker to the shrink.

Part 1: Why It's a Reissue:

Because of the fact that the release took place 6 years after the original release, it is considered a reissue. Additionally, it featured a different catalog number on the spine–new text is enough to qualify this release as a reissue.

Part 2: Why It's (Kind Of) a Repress:

Upon analyzing the runouts for the original 2017 release compared to the new 2023 pressing, the 2023 pressing is not technically a repress in the way that it seems to be.

Runouts for 2017 US release on Coke Bottle Clear vinyl:

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 160374E1/A1 5758996-A Re1 CB 00602557589962-A
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 160374E2/A 5758996-B Re1 CB 00602557589962-B
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): 160374E3/A 5758996-C Re1 CB 00602557589962-C
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): 160374E4/A3 5758996-D Re1 CB 00602557589962-D

Runouts for 2022 European reissue on black vinyl:

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 196071E1 1434376 00602557589948-A
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 196071E2 1101825 00602557589948-B CB
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): 196071E3 1043970 00602557589955-A CB
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): 196071E4/A3 1053130 00602557589955-B CB

Runouts for 2023 D2C reissue on Coke Bottle Clear vinyl:

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 196071E1 1759641 00602557589948-A
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 196071E2 1765793 00602557589948-B
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): 255747E1 1703239 5758995-A
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): 255747E2 1695896 5758995-B

Given that, compared to the 2017 release, the 2023 reissue:

features different catalog numbers
features a different GZ Media job number (196071E, instead of the original 160374E)
is pressed on different color vinyl

it is ineligible for official repress status, if specifically compared to the original 2017 release.

If compared to the 2022 European reissue, however:

it has the same catalog number
it has the same GZ media job number (196071E) on Sides A & B

it can technically be called a partial repress, since Sides A & B of the 2023 reissue are the same lacquers from the 2022 reissue. Since Side C & D are newly cut with another GZ media job number (255747E), then it needs to be specified that only Side A & B are repressed for this reissue.

Additionally, since the online webstores officially market the 2023 D2C release as a repress, it is another reason for the repress term to be used as well.

Example 1: Lover by Taylor Swift

In Novmeber of 2023, a new variant of the Lover album appeared in record stores–instead of the Pink & Blue vinyl that has been common since 2019, it was pressed on black vinyl.
The 2023 release featured a number of noteworthy differences to the original Pink & Blue vinyl release:
- Different catalog # on spine of jacket.
- Different runout information (new stampers)
- The vinyl is pressed on standard black.
- No hype sticker to the shrink.

Part 1: Why It's a Reissue:

Because of the fact that the release took place 4 years after the original release and was pressed on a completely different colored vinyl, it is also considered a reissue.
Additionally, it featured a different catalog number on the spine–new text is enough to qualify this release as a reissue.

Part 1: Why It's a Repress:

Upon analyzing the runouts for the original 2019 and 2021 pressings compared to the new 2023 pressing, the 2023 pressing is considered a repress of the 2021 reissue and not the 2019 release.

Runouts for 2019 US release on Pink & Blue vinyl:

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 196994E1/B B003097201-A RKS STERLING B003097201 LP01-A2
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 196994E2/B B003097201-B RKS STERLING B003097201 LP01-B2
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): 196994E3/B B003097201-C RKS STERLING B003097201 LP02-A2
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): 196994E4/B B003097201-D RKS STERLING B003097201 LP02-B2

Runouts for 2021 US reissue on Pink & Blue vinyl:

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 233270E1 RKS STERLING B0030972-01 LP01-A (3) 1520891
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 233270E2 B0030972-01 LP01-B (3) RKS STERLING 1049912
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): 233270E3 B0030972-01 LP02-C (3) RKS STERLING 1518334
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): 233270E4 B0030972-01 LP02-D RKS STERLING 1064025

Runouts for 2023 reissue on Black vinyl:

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): 233270E1 RKS STERLING B-0030972-01 LP01-A (3) 1049915
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): 233270E2 B0030972-01 LP01-B (3) RKS STERLING 1524828
Matrix / Runout (Side C runout): 233270E3 B0030972-01 LP02-C (3) RKS STERLING 1640948
Matrix / Runout (Side D runout): 233270E4 B0030972-01 LP02-D RKS STERLING 1524997

Compared 2019 release, the 2023 reissue:

features a different GZ Media job number (233270E1, instead of the original 196994E)
is pressed on different color vinyl

and it is ineligible for official repress status, if specifically compared to the original 2019 release.

If compared to the 2021 reissue, however:

it has the same GZ media job number (233270E) and nearly identical runout patterns

it is considered a repress, since it uses the same lacquers from the 2021 reissue.