GI, stylized in parentheses as (GI), is the only studio album by the punk rock band the Germs. It was released in the US on October 1, 1979 on Slash Records with catalog number SR 103. Often considered the first full-length hardcore punk album. The album was later released in Italy in 1982 by Expanded Music with the catalog EX 11. The album’s title is an acronym for “Germs Incognito”, an alternate name the band used to obtain bookings when their early reputation kept them out of Los Angeles-area clubs. After (GI)’s release, the band would only undertake one more recording session, for the soundtrack album to Al Pacino‘s 1980 film Cruising. On December 7, 1980, a year after the release of (GI), vocalist Darby Crash died by suicide.
The entire album was included on the 1993 compilation CD (MIA): The Complete Anthology. In 2012, (GI) was reissued on CD with “Caught in My Eye” as a bonus track, after “Shut Down”. In 2021, G.I was placed at number 430 on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book series.
Tracklist:
Side One
- What We Do Is Secret
- Communist Eyes
- Land of Treason
- Richie Dagger’s Crime
- Strange Notes
- American Leather
- Lexicon Devil
- Manimal
- Our Way
- We Must Bleed
Side Two
- Media Blitz
- The Other Newest One
- Let’s Pretend” Crash
- Dragon Lady
- The Slave
- Shut Down (Annihilation Man) (live)
- Caught in My Eye (Only appears on the 2012 CD release and the cassette)
Credits:
The Germs
Darby Crash: lead vocals
Pat Smear: guitar, backing vocals
Lorna Doom: bass guitar, backing vocals
Don Bolles: drums, backing vocals
Additional performer
Donnie Rose: piano on “Shut Down (Annihilation Man)” (credited only on some European editions)
Production
Joan Jett: producer, mixing
Pat Burnette: engineer
Geza X: mastering
Darby Crash: cover art
Melanie Nissen: photography
Jan Paul Beahm (better known by his stage name Darby Crash (September 26, 1958 – December 7, 1980)
