The Germs – Releases

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This index features only vinyl and includes official releases


A. Releases

1. The Germs ‎– Forming
Label: What Records?
Catalog Number: WHAT 01
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, , Single
Released: July 1977

Notes: The untitled live song on side-B (The Germs Live) is “Sex Boy”, recorded at the second Germs live show, at the Roxy; made during the filming of the first Cheech and Chong movie Up in Smoke. This is regarded as the first punk rock single to come out of LA, released just 16 months after the landmark first album by the Ramones came out on the east coast.

Tracklist
A ‎– Forming
B ‎– [untitled]

2. The Germs ‎– Lexicon Devil
Label: Slash Records
Catalog Number: Scam 101
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, EP
Released: May 1978

Notes: Bandmembers named without role on back sleeve, “Nicky Beat on drums (courtesy of The Weirdos)” credited on inner gatefold (bottom); sleeve variations for this first pressing include red, pink, goldenrod, and yellow.

Tracklist
A ‎– Lexicon Devil
B1 ‎– Circle One
B2 ‎– No God

3. Germs – (GI)
Label: Slash Records
Catalog Number: SR-103
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Released: October 1979
Notes: First pressing in pasteboard-style sleeve (brown cardboard-colored inside, unlike later ones which are white inside) and with a two-sided lyrics insert instead of a printed inner sleeve. All original pressings (1st, 2nd, and probably beyond) have no text along spine of sleeve. The T-shirt insert was not included with the first pressing as several of the T-shirts reference later Slash label releases.
Tracklist
A1 ‎– What We Do Is Secret
A2‎ ‎– Communist Eyes
A3‎ ‎– Land Of Treason
A4‎ ‎– Richie Dagger’s Crime
A5‎ ‎– Strange Notes
A6 ‎– American Leather
A7 ‎– Lexicon Devil
A8 ‎– Manimal
A9 ‎– Our Way
A10 ‎– We Must Bleed
B1 ‎– Media Blitz
B2 ‎– The Other Newest One
B3 ‎– Let’s Pretend
B4 ‎– Dragon Lady
B5 ‎– The Slave
B6 ‎– Shut Down

4. Germs ‎– What We Do Is Secret
Label: Slash
Catalog Number: SREP-108
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, EP
Released: August 1981

Notes: Two jacket variations exist in the same way they exist for (GI): one pressing in pasteboard-style sleeve (brown cardboard-colored inside) and another which is white inside. Track A1 recorded in 1977 by What Records; Tracks A2, A3 & B1 recorded in 1978 and previously released as the Lexicon Devil 7″ EP in May 1978; Track A4 recorded in 1979 by Slash Records and is an outtake from the (GI) LP studio sessions; Track B2 is not listed on back cover but on label; Tracks B3 & B4 recorded live on December 3rd, 1980 at the Starwood, Hollywood.

Tracklist
A1 ‎– Round And Round
A2 ‎– Lexicon Devil
A3 ‎– Circle One
A4 ‎– Caught In My Eye
B1 ‎– No God
B2 ‎– Dialogue From Last Show
B3 ‎– The Other Newest One
B4 ‎– My Tunnel

5. The Germs – Germicide
Label: Mohawk Records
Catalog Number: SCALP-001
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Released: June 1981

Notes: Recorded live at The Whisky – June 1977 (the first-ever Germs performance, according to the label).

Tracklist
A1 ‎– Forming
A2 ‎– Sex Boy
A3 ‎– Victim
A4 ‎– Street Dreams
A5 ‎– Let’s Pretend
B1 ‎– Get A Grip
B2 ‎– Suicide Machine
B3 ‎– Sugar Sugar
B4 ‎– Teenage Clone (Wild Baby)
B5 ‎– Grand Old Flag

6. Germs ‎– Rock N’ Rule
Label: XES Records
Catalog Number: F-506
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Released: 1986

Notes: Recorded live at The Masque Christmas Party in December 1979 at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in Hollywood.

Tracklist
A1 ‎– Lion’s Share
A2 ‎– Let’s Pretend
A3 ‎– Richie Dagger’s Crime
A4 ‎– What We Do Is Secret
A5 ‎– Art
A6 ‎– Communist Eyes
A7 ‎– Caught In My Eye
A8 ‎– Media Blitz
B1 ‎– Lexicon Devil
B2 ‎– Manimal
B3 ‎– Our Way
B4 ‎– False Start
B5 ‎– Shutdown

7. Germs ‎– (DCC)
Label: Rockville / Gasatanka Records
Catalog Number: ROCK-6094-7 / JC-9026
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, EP
Released: 1992

Notes: Issued on blue, black, clear, green, and light blue vinyl. Side A: recorded live at the Fleetwood on May 6, 1980; Side B: recorded during (GI) rehearsals at the Canterbury in 1979.

Tracklist
A ‎– Communist Eyes
B1 ‎– Forming
B2 ‎– What We Do Is Secret

8. Germs ‎– Forming (Version 2)
Label: Alive Records
Catalog Number: ALIVE 0056
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single
Released: 2004

Notes: Released in black, purple, and white vinyl versions. The credits stated on this reissue are exactly the same as on the 1977 version of Forming.

Tracklist
A ‎– ‘Round And ‘Round
B ‎– Forming (Version 2)

9. The Germs ‎– Lexicon Devil (Version 2)
Label: Anarchy Music
Catalog Number: ARY 8079
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, EP
Released: 2007

Notes: Limited to 500 numbered copies; recorded live at the Whisky in 1979.

Tracklist
A ‎– Lexicon Devil
B1 ‎– What We Do Is Secret
B2 ‎– Sex Boy