Poindexter is a real name from the island of Jersey in the English Channel. However, it became a nickname for someone without social skills because of Felix the Cat in the late 1950s and early 1960s. As such, it’s natural for people to wonder whether Buster Poindexter is a real name. Amusingly, they’d be right to do so in this case because it isn’t the entertainer’s real name.
Those curious should know Buster Poindexter is a pseudonym for David Johansen, who they might be more familiar with as a member of the New York Dolls. The man released four studio albums as the alter ego from the late 1980s to the late 1990s. These feature some surprisingly enjoyable music.
Here is our opinion of the ten best Buster Poindexter songs ever released:
10. “All Night Party”
“All Night Party” is the opening track for Buster Poindexter’s second album, Buster Goes Berserk. It isn’t the most sophisticated song ever recorded and released. Luckily, it doesn’t need to be because it’s enjoyable as it is.
9. “Good Morning Judge”
“Good Morning Judge” comes from Buster Poindexter, the artist’s self-titled debut album. This song can be darkly amusing for people in the right mood. Its focus character seems to be something of a ne’er-do-well. Still, this isn’t how the courts are supposed to operate.
8. “Ondine”
“Ondine” was released on Buster Poindexter’s fourth and final studio album, Buster’s Spanish Rocketship. Given the name, interested individuals should have no problem guessing this was a Latin-influenced release. “Ondine” makes more sense when one realizes the name’s origin. It’s a variant of undine, one of the four kinds of elemental beings mentioned in Paracelsus’s alchemical writings. The four are gnomes for earth, undines for water, sylphs for air, and salamanders for fire. The lyrics describe someone who sounds like a mermaid because that’s how people came to imagine undines.
7. “Smack Dab in the Middle”
“Smack Dab in the Middle” opened Buster Poindexter’s self-titled debut album. That was a challenging task. However, “Smack Dab in the Middle” did its job well, thus enabling it to claim a spot on this list.
6. “Heart of Gold”
On a related note, “Heart of Gold” was the song that closed the same album. Interestingly, the artist recorded this song not once but twice. He did so under his real name the first time. Subsequently, it proved popular enough that he did so as Buster Poindexter the second time. The result is different from its predecessor. Still, it’s worth listening to. Those curious should know that “Heart of Gold” describes someone in a bad situation because he’s being blamed for something that isn’t his fault. The artist performs it with enough skill to make him sympathetic.
5. “House of the Rising Sun”
“House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional American folk song. It’s so old that no one knows where it came from. People aren’t even sure whether it came from England or France, which is relevant because it’s associated with New Orleans. This isn’t the happiest song in existence. After all, it’s a warning about a place that brings young people to ruin. Generally, people interpret the lyrics to mean that the titular establishment is a brothel, though there are other possibilities because they’re so vague. Many artists have recorded “House of the Rising Sun.” Buster Poindexter’s version is one of the more memorable ones.
4. “Bad Boy”
The Jive Bombers recorded “Bad Boy” back in 1957. It was popular enough that numerous artists have since covered it. Once again, Buster Poindexter’s version stands out among the crowd. In part, that’s because the alter ego’s character makes him well-suited for depicting the song’s titular figure.
3. “Oh Me, Oh My (I’m a Fool For You)”
“Oh Me, Oh My (I’m a Fool For You)” was first performed by a Scottish artist named Lulu. Reputedly, it was an abrupt change for her, so it took some time to build up momentum. Despite that, the song did become more popular, thus explaining the many artists who have covered it since. This version isn’t necessarily the best one ever made. Luckily, it’s still distinctive enough to stand out, meaning it soars above the sea of its lesser counterparts.
2. “Hit the Road Jack”
“Hit the Road Jack” is another legendary song. Specifically, interested individuals should know Ray Charles released it in 1961. The song was a chart-topper in its time. On top of that, it earned Charles a Grammy for the Best R&B Recording in that year. Buster Poindexter’s cover has a unique charm that lets it stand apart from the original so it can be judged by itself. Something that has saved it from being permanently cast in shadow.
1. “Hot Hot Hot”
“Hot Hot Hot” is the most famous of Buster Poindexter’s songs by a considerable margin. Arrow released the original in 1982. Subsequently, the song became popular with dance clubs, so much so that artists started releasing covers in other countries. Buster Poindexter’s version might be the best-known, as shown by how it reached the number 45 position on the general charts and the number 11 position on the dance charts in the United States. Funny enough, he has expressed dissatisfaction about the song’s popularity at one point because of how much play it gets. “Hot Hot Hot” saw use in various contexts long after its release. For instance, it saw frequent use as a wedding song for a long time, which makes sense considering its celebratory mood.
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