The Germs “’Round and ‘Round” b/w “Forming (Version 2)” 2004. Alive Records, purple vinyl. “’Round and ‘Round” was originally performed by Chuck Berry (the B-side to 1958′s “Johnny B. Goode”) and appears on The Germs’ posthumously released ‘81 EP What We Do Is Secret and seems to be a nod to David Bowie’s 1971 version – Darby Crash was a major Bowie fan – the staccato rhythm and phrasing very similar to Bowie’s.  The first version of “Forming” was The Germs debut single, released in ‘77, and that iteration is still my favorite, raw and rhythmically awkward, the ending has Crash bemoaning “We’re playing it all wrong. The drums are too slow, the bass is too fast, the chords are wrong, this is making the ending too long…ah, I quit.“ Version 2, on this 45, was cut “with future X drummer D.J. Bonebrake taking over for the departed Donna Rhia – Don Bolles was on hiatus; Crash’s monotone had evolved into a frantic, discordant wail; Pat Smear’s guitar is both looser and stronger, and Lorna Doom’s bass playing sounds kind of/ sort of professional. In short, they’d grown from an inept garage band figuring out how to put the pieces together to an inept punk band who, for better or worse, knew just what they wanted to do, and it’s their strength and confidence that makes all the difference in the world. The two versions of the song bookend the excellent compilation CD (M.I.A.), which ultimately tells you everything you really need to know about the Germs.” (Allmusic)