The Germs' only studio album, released in 1979, was (GI), commonly written as GI.
The album was recorded in Los Angeles at Quad Teck studio in 1979 and released in October of that year by Slash Records. Joan Jett produced the sessions, helping capture the Germs' raw, chaotic attack while giving the record enough definition to become a landmark of early hardcore punk.
The title is an abbreviation of “Germs Incognito,” a name the band used when booking shows after its reputation made some Los Angeles clubs reluctant to host it. The record includes songs associated with the band's volatile live identity, including “Lexicon Devil,” “Manimal,” and “What We Do Is Secret.”
(GI) is often described as one of the first full-length hardcore punk albums. It was the Germs' only studio LP because singer Darby Crash died in December 1980, ending the band's original run. Later compilations collected additional material, but they do not change the album's status as the group's sole studio release.