Started in 1977 with a shoestring budget, Chris Ashford’s one man record company documented the early punk scene in Los Angeles.
Chris Ashford may not be a household name, but over 40 years ago, he released a single by his teenage friends, The Germs. That single, Forming / Sex Boy, is now widely recognized as the first Los Angeles DIY punk release. Shortly after, Ashford was approached by The Dils’ manager to put out a single for them. This was issued as What 02, The Dils’ I Hate the Rich. At the time, Ashford was frequenting The Masque in Hollywood, and from there recorded The Controllers, The Skulls, and the Eyes. In 1982, the What Records? name was sold, around the same time Ashford began releasing surf rock and taking his music business in a different direction.
A. Singles and EPs (7″)
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.
2. The Dils – I Hate The Rich
Label: What Records?
Catalog Number: WHAT 02
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single
Released: September 1977
Notes: First pressing released with a unique sleeve, known as the “Oils” sleeve, as the band name appears to be “THE OILS”, due to the font used in the logo.
3. Controllers – Neutron Bomb
Label: What Records?
Catalog Number: WHAT 04
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single
Released: 1978
4. The Tidal Waves – Fun, Fun, Fun / Sunrise
Label: What Records?
Catalog Number: WHAT 05
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single
Released: 1979
5. The Martyrs – Pig Pen Victim / Social Sacrifice
Label: What Records?
Catalog Number: WHAT 06
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single
Released: 1979
6. Kaos – Product Of A Sick Mind…
Label: What Records?
Catalog Number: W7-1216
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, EP
Released: 1980
Notes: Also issued in a 12″ 45 RPM format; reissued in 2000 in the 7″ format on Bacchus Archives / Dionysus Records.
7. Hilary Laddin – The Sell
Label: What Records?
Catalog Number: WHAT 101
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single
Released: 1980
B. LPs (12″)
1. Gabriele Morgan – Buried Treasure
Label: What Records?
Catalog Number: W12-1217
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Released: 1981
C. Compilations
1. The Eyes / The Controllers / The Skulls – Don’t Talk To Me / (The Original) Neutron Bomb / Victims
Label: What Records?
Catalog Number: WHAT 03
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, EP
Released: 1978
Oneline Resources:
The Big Takeover – Chris Ashford interview
Horror Garage – Chris Ashford interview
[Also provided here for readability]
Iloki Records – Chris Ashford’s site