IT NEVER ENDS #1
GERMS ~ Forming 7in. (What Records 1977)
Additional sources: Chris Ashford (owner, What Records)
It wasn't the seminal hardcore of their GI LP that hooked me on the Germs;
it was the mess captured on their Live At The Whisky LP
(later released as "Germicide" on ROIR). The crushing lack of musicianship, shamelessly
evidenced on their first 45, should serve as inspiration to any would-be punk rock
band member. The other song on this 45 "Sex Boy" was recorded on the set of Cheech & Chong's
Up In Smoke. The Germs performance
didn't make the film's final cut, but the Dils ("You're Not Blank") and Brats ("Psychotic")
appear in short 'n' sweet style. Up In Smoke director Lou Adler's affinity
for punk rock continued in his next, final, and even funnier film
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains
which included Black Randy & The Metrosquad footage. By the way, the Screamers
did a ripping cover of "Sex Boy" which can be found on the Demos 1977 - 78 bootleg
LP. For all my gabbing about their "Forming" 7in, I don't pretend that the Germs'
follow-up Lexicon Devil EP does anything short of incinerate this previous
7in. (much like the Misfits' Bullet EP did to their lounge rock Cough/Cool 7in.
debut), but "Forming" was where it all began. And so I'll begin BMF's new serial
by dissecting this first Germs 45... it was, appropriately enough, a rough start.
Our man Chris Ashford wrote me this: "The original pressing was flawed with labels
on the wrong side which the pressing plant replaced. We had no idea that anything
would be worth anything to anybody so throwing 500 over a hill wasn't out of the
question. The first labels said in mono, which had to be changed. The first run of
sleeves said send one dollar to my address at the time which was taken off the next
printing. Those first ones [picture sleeves] were not destroyed and made it out.
I think the yellow label issue was actually the 4th pressing, and some may of had
the tail end of one of the sleeve printings, after they ran out, I didn't print
anymore."
Chris also said that the inserts were changed repeatedly and that as the band got
more serious, they decided to remove "once more you morons" and the bogus ASCAP
reference.
FIRST PRESSING:
LABEL: "true mono" and on wrong side ("Sex Boy" plays instead
of "Forming").
Other label is black with no printing. On those not destroyed, precious few included sleeves or inserts.
SLEEVE: A $1 offer on the back indicates a first issue sleeve.
INSERT ~ 1st press variation: extra chorus typed out, handwritten "Lexitron Music/ASCAP", no "by Bobby Pyn"
(I believe this to be an early version of the more common insert directly below)
INSERT ~ 1st press standard: "once more you morons", Published by Lexitron Music/ASCAP
SECOND PRESSING:
LABEL: speed listed "45 rpm", "©/p credit by what records,
1977" at bottom,
® at top. Correctly labeled ("Forming" plays). B-side label is black. 1000 pressed.
Sleeve has $1 offer on back PS (as above). Same run used on the 1st press.
Insert has "once more you morons", Published by Lexitron Music/ASCAP (as above).
THIRD PRESSING:
Labels are identical to 2nd pressing. Back sleeve no longer
has $1 offer.
The insert no longer has the "morons" and "ASCAP" reference.
Often in far cleaner condition than earlier pressings. 1000 pressed.
FOURTH PRESSING:
Yellow labels. No PS or insert. 500 pressed in the early 80's.
This 7in. has also been repressed circa by Iloki (1989), Gift of Life (1990),
and Alive (1999). Yawn.
CAVEAT EMPTOR when buying what is touted as 1st press on this record. Because of the multiple pressings and subtle differences between those pressings,
this record is prone to mixing and matching by both well-intentioned record collectors
(ignorant of pressing differences) and shifty sorts.
— Ryan Richardson
September 4, 2004
