X released the 1981 album Wild Gift.
The Los Angeles punk band issued its second studio album on May 6, 1981, through Slash Records. It was recorded in March at Clover Recorders in Los Angeles and Golden Sound Studios in Hollywood, with former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek producing. The core lineup was John Doe, Exene, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake.
Wild Gift expanded punk’s vocabulary with elements of roots rock, country, blues, rhythm and blues, and rockabilly. That blend helped distinguish X from the more narrowly hardcore sound associated with some contemporaries. The album was critically acclaimed, placing second in The Village Voice’s 1981 Pazz & Jop poll and later appearing on Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest albums of all time.
A common mix-up is choosing another important Los Angeles punk band, such as The Germs, Fear, or The Weirdos. The title Wild Gift belongs specifically to X’s second album, following the band’s 1980 debut Los Angeles. The track “White Girl” was later sampled by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.