Customer Reviews

Buster Goes Berserk

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Buster Poindexter is certainly long on personality. He even has a little bit of talent as well. If you are looking for a light hearted party record, this one will fit your bill. Hit The Road Jack, Who Put The Whiskey In The Well and International Playboy are my three faves on here but the rest is pretty charming if nothing else.

More of a novelty CD than anything else. However, it will give you a chuckle.

Buster Poindexter was the lounge singer persona of former New York Doll David Johansen. He had a hit with "Hot Hot Hot", which isn't on this album. The best know song here is his cover version of Ray Charles' "Hit the Road, Jack", which was featured in that movie about escaped mental patients starring Michael Keaton. This is a decent album, but nothing spectacular. The whole album feels rather artificial, like the whole "Buster Poindexter" persona is a put-on(which it was).

Looking at Buster's hair I am reminded of the Brad Pitt movie "Johnny Suede". The music on this album is great but the limit of material makes me suspect that in was a rushed product in order to capitalize on the success of "Hot, Hot, Hot". The main thing that dates this album is the fact that it has musicians on it, which seem to be an endagered species in the age of sampling in order to steal the perfect beat.
There are a few downer songs on this album ("Poorest People") but it does have a good party vibe.

Even after all the music Ive gotten in to since my parents bought this cd in 1991 (thrash/death/black/power metal, Punk, jazz-fusion, old country) this still ranks among my time tested favorite albums ever . It's synonymous w/ my 8 yr old self doing everything from playing w/ Legos to family root beer float night. Great happy music w/ some subdued moments. Deep in a dream I still sing to this day. Not growing up familiar w/ The New York Dolls, my opinion of David Johansen consists entirely of this cd and Mr Nanny.
Standout tracks: Who Threw The Whisky, Deep in a Dream, Juicy Lucy, Hit the Road

It's totally amazing that this is the same David Johansen that I just saw in the New York Dolls. They don't even look alike! This is the music that you would expect to hear on a cruise ship or Las Vegas except it's pretty good. This CD is mixture of Latin, gospel, ballads and party music...it starts off strong, but overall it's hit and miss. He has a 14 piece band behind him which Buster calls the Banshees of Blues. The one big cover is "Hit the Road Jack" which I never realized was originally a Curtis Mayfield song. I always thought it was created by Ray Charles.