From punk classics with the New Yorks Dolls to solo material under his own name and the alias Buster Poindexter

David Johansen’s essential songs touch on all phases of his career, beginning with the New York Dolls straight through to his solo work and his Buster Poindexter alter-ego. Roberta Bayley/Redferns/Getty Images

David Johansen, who died February 28 at 75, helped record the soundtrack to glam-punk rock as lead singer of the groundbreaking New York Dolls. Songs like “Personality Crisis” and “Trash” influenced countless bands, from Aerosmith to Guns N’ Roses, and cemented the group’s place in rock history. But it didn’t end there: When the Dolls disbanded, Johansen launched an eclectic solo career, both under his own name and as the lounge lizard alter-ego Buster Poindexter. From the Dolls to Buster and in between, these are the charismatic singer’s essential songs.