Michel Berger
Les Plus Belles Chansons de Michel Berger
WEA France 256 937 or 2292-42164
made in Germany for the French (and European?) market
color scheme: silver stock background with black reticle and lettering
genre: French pop
LP originally released in 1981


"Made in Germany" at 4 o'clock.
Matrix number: 256937.2 RSA (plus a series of boxes resembling a barcode)
A small "32" is embossed in the plastic center along with a stylized "W" logo (f).
There are plenty of (mostly) minor variations of the above, involving catalog numbers,
the matrix numbers, and what is (or isn't) embossed in the plastic centers.
There are well over a dozen such variations so hold on to your hat, buckaroo!
(Feel free to ignore all this trainspotting if you just don't care. I won't be offended.)

First of all, this title was in print as a target disc for a loooooong time and went
through a lot of changes; two catalog numbers and three distinctly different matrix numbers.
The first matrix number is "2 56937 SRC-01" looking for all the world like a circa 1988
Specialty / WEA Manufacturing disc. I don't have one to show you yet. Let's call it M1.
That was quickly replaced by M2 which is "256937.2 RSA" plus a series of boxes.
When Record Service was renamed Warner Music Manufacturing Europe, that one was replaced by
M3 which is "229242164-2 WME" plus a series of boxes. The first CD issue of this title has
a catalog number "256 937" (type 1) which was later changed to "2292-42164" (type 2).
Type 1 also looks a little different in that "Manufactured in Germany by | | Record
Service GmbH, Alsdorf" is along the bottom, while type 2 lacks that verbiage and just
states "Made in Germany" at 4 o'clock.

In roughly the order of issuance, let's roll! The following have been reported:
(a) type 1, M1, nothing embossed in the center
(b) type 1, M2, large "3" embossed in the center
(c) type 1, M2, large "16" embossed in the center
(d) type 1, M2, large "17" embossed in the center
(e) type 2, M2, small "26" and "W" embossed in the center
(f) type 2, M2, large "32" and "W" embossed in the center (see above)
(g) type 2, M2, large "42" and "W" embossed in the center
(h) type 2, M2, large "43" and "W" embossed in the center
(i) type 2, M3, nothing embossed in the center
(j) type 2, M3, just the stylized "W" embossed in the center
(k) type 2, M3, large "21" and "W" embossed in the center
(l) type 2, M3, small "25" and "W" embossed in the center
(m) type 2, M3, large "43" and "W" embossed in the center
(n) type 2, M3, large "44" and "W" embossed in the center
(o) type 2, M3, small "45" and "W" embossed in the center
I would not be surprised if more such minor variations exist.


Front cover of the four-page booklet.
No manufacturing info is present.
The changing catalog numbers are reflected on page four.
Several of the records are mis-identified on page two. The error was never
corrected. Unless it was corrected after the target design was discontinued.


Rear tray insert with barcode and later catalog number 2292-42164-2 (y).
"Manufactured in Germany by Record Service GmbH, Alsdorf
Fabriqué en Allemagne par Record Service GmbH, Alsdorf"
Disc variations (e) through (o) can found paired with this tray card.
Disc variations (b) through (d) can found paired with a tray card (x)
substantially the same except the catalog number is 256 927. I don't have a picture yet.
Disc variation (a) can found paired with a tray card (w)
substantially the same as (x) except the price code is "WE 833" instead of "WE 835".
I don't have a picture yet.

Notes: This target CD was probably only distributed in Europe, mainly in France.
It is fairly common in Europe.

08/27/20 *