Complete List Of Buster Poindexter Albums And Discography

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Our Complete List Of Buster Poindexter Albums And Discography explores the alter-ego persona of the well-known musical artist and actor David Johansen, who died in 2025. It’s not often that artists get to reinvent themselves multiple times and be successful. Of course, actors do it all the time, but musicians outside of a few, like David Bowie and Madonna, have rarely been successful in changing their personalities.

The difference between David Johansen and Bowie or Madonna is that Johansen used a completely different name and proved to be extremely successful, if not even more successful, as Buster Poindexter than he was as a solo artist. Of course, we can’t forget that one of his most remarkable contributions to rock and roll culture was leading his groundbreaking band, New York Dolls. Below is a list of David Johansen’s Buster Poindexter albums. This is the guy you want to invite to your party, or maybe not.

DAVID JOHANSEN AS BUSTER POINDEXTER ALBUMS

Buster Poindexter (1987)

This self-titled album marked David Johansen’s reinvention as Buster Poindexter, a larger-than-life persona that embraced the campy, theatrical side of music. Hank Medress produced the album, which was recorded in the New York area, including sessions at Power Station. Buster Poindexter introduced audiences to a blend of rhythm and blues, calypso, jump blues, and big band sounds, giving new life to classic party songs.

CD Track Listings:

“Smack Dab in the Middle” (Charles Calhoun) – 3:54
“Bad Boy” (Avon Long, Lil Hardin Armstrong) – 3:07
“Hot Hot Hot” (Alphonsus “Arrow” Cassell) – 4:10
“Are You Lonely for Me, Baby?” (Bert Berns) – 3:37
“Screwy Music” (Fred Rose) – 3:16
“Good Morning Judge” (Louis Innis, Wynonie Harris) – 3:39
“Oh Me, Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby)” (Jim Doris) – 3:52
“Whadaya Want?” (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) – 2:45
“House of the Rising Sun” (Traditional) – 3:43
“Cannibal” (David Johansen, Joe Delia) – 4:46
“Heart of Gold” (David Johansen) – 3:45

Buster Goes Berserk (1989)

Buster Poindexter: Buster Goes Berserk [CD]

Johansen continued to develop the Buster Poindexter character on Buster Goes Berserk. The album infuses more of Buster’s signature blend of swing, jump blues, rhythm and blues, and party music into lively covers and original songs.

CD Track Listings:

“All Night Party” (Ashley “Grub” Cooper) – 3:53
“Hit the Road, Jack” (Percy Mayfield) – 3:16
“International Playboy” (Bernard Broomer, Bunny Sigler, Lee Phillips, Ugene Dozier) – 3:34
“Poorest People” (Roy Brown) – 4:32
“Juicy Lucy” (Albert Chancy) – 4:10
“Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well?” (Eddie DeLange, Johnny Brooks) – 3:22
“At the Party” (Johnny Rivera) – 3:02
“Imitation of Life” (Arno Hecht, Crispin Cioe, David Johansen, Bob Funk, “Hollywood” Paul Litteral) – 4:31
“DeBourge Yourself” (Arno Hecht, Crispin Cioe, David Johansen, Bob Funk, “Hollywood” Paul Litteral) – 3:36
“Deep in a Dream” (Eddie DeLange, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 3:11

Buster’s Happy Hour (1994)

Buster’s Happy Hour captures the spirit of a lively New York bar, with Johansen as Poindexter belting out classic R&B, blues, and jump blues songs with his signature enthusiasm. The album was recorded at Rockland Recording in Orangeburg, New York, with Brian Koonin among its producers.

CD Track Listings:

“Breakin’ Up the House”
“Big Fat Mamas Are Back in Style Again”
“Doin’ What I Please” (Fats Waller, Andy Razaf)
“Let Me In”
“I Got Loaded”
“Saturday Night Fish Fry” (Louis Jordan, Ellis Walsh) – duet with Soozie Tyrell
“Lavender Coffin”
“Rocket 88” (Ike Turner, credited to Jackie Brenston)
“The Worst Beer I Ever Had”
“Who Drank My Beer (While I Was in the Rear)?”
“Rockin’ All Nite Long”
“Knock’m Down Whiskey”
“Pink Champagne”
“Drunk” – duet with Bill Morrissey
“I’ll Die Happy”
“Butcher Pete (Parts 1 & 2)” (Roy Brown)
“Alcohol” (Ray Davies)

Buster’s Spanish Rocketship (1997)

On Buster’s Spanish Rocketship, Johansen’s Poindexter alter ego adds a Latin twist to his usual mix of genres, incorporating salsa, bolero, and mambo. The album was recorded at Rockland Recording and produced by Brian Koonin. This album provides a unique blend of eclectic rhythms, further expanding Poindexter’s musical persona.