The Germs — (GI)

• Artist: The Germs
• Title: (GI)
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Long long time ago…
• Keeper: Yes

(GI) is the only the studio album The Germs ever recorded. It’s been a long long time since I last played it, and to be honest I never played that much. I probably wouldn’t be playing it now if it weren’t for this site, which is really just an exercise I concocted to make me play everything we own at least one more time.

I was surprised how hardcore punk it sounds; this was only 1979. Reading about it I saw that (GI) is considered one of the first records of the hardcore genre. There are a number of well-known folks with a Germs connection, including guitarist Pat Smear (later in Foo Fighters), very briefly Belinda Carlisle, and it was produced by Joan Jett. Singer Darby Crash is probably best known for dying in a sad, deliberate and stupid heroin suicide.

There aren’t many memories for me associated with The Germs other than going to see the excellent movie The Decline of Western Civilization. It’s by director Penelope Spheeris and it’s about the early LA punk scene. I went with my friend Jeff Arthur, and maybe some other folks, to see a late night showing of it at the Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk, VA. The audience was full of teenagers looking as punk and hard as possible, and generally acting stupid. We blended right in.

(GI) is just one of those records a punk (rocker) of my vintage feels obligated to have, and keep, so I guess I will.

More about The Germs.

The Decline of Western Civilization

Various Artists — Slash: The Early Sessions

Various Artists -- Slash: The Early Sessions

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: Slash: The Early Sessions
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Olsson’s in Georgetown, DC.
• Keeper: Yes

Good ol’ Slash Records. This is a compilation of music from some of the great bands on Slash from 1979-1983. The presence of The Blasters and X (two songs each) is what pushes this rating up to 8. Another tasty bit is Fear’s “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones.” From the lyrics on that song, and others, it’s hard to tell if they’re homosexuals, homophobes, or just having fun making uptight people mad. Fear was always good for a little controversy.

Here’s a funny story about Fear’s appearance on Saturday Night Live, at Wikipedia.

Artists include:

• The Blasters
• Gun Club
• Rank and File
• Violent Femmes
• X
• Fear
• Germs
• The Dream Syndicate