Fan Poll: 10 Greatest Faster Pussycat Songs
Welcome to our new Fan Poll! This time, we asked a simple question: tell us your favorite Faster Pussycat songs so we can determine the 10 greatest songs from this legendary Sunset Strip band once and for all. The response was excellent, and we got the results we wanted. The research was conducted across all our platforms, including our Facebook page, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube channel. Then, we asked the fans in the one and only subreddit HairMetal, Glam Metal Universe Facebook group, and Glam Rock City Facebook Group.
Faster Pussycat released four full-length albums in their career, along with other songs being released on compilations or singles. We included all of them in our fan poll research. So, without further ado, here are the results of the Ten Greatest Faster Pussycat Songs according to the fans.
Just to be clear, again, this is not some editorial opinion. This is how you voted!
10. Smash Alley (Faster Pussycat 1987)
To begin this list, we have a song that could easily be labeled as a deep cut from Faster Pussycat’s first album. The sleazy bass line that opens the song is a great showcase of what to expect from this dirty rocker. If you’ve ever wondered what was going on with all the lipstick junkies and runaways in the little alleys across West Hollywood, then take a listen to this song. It ain’t pretty, but it’s true to the bone.
9. Jack The Bastard (Whipped! 1992)
On their third album released in 1992, Faster Pussycat evolved to become more mature, heavier, darker, and grittier. However, their mantra remained untouched – and that mantra is their sleaze. Many bands in LA flirted with sleaze, but Faster Pussycat defined it. All aforementioned ingredients were present on this album. This one should have been their biggest, but it wasn’t, and we all know why (the industry decided to kill this kind of music). “Jack The Bastard” is, without a doubt, one of the best songs from this release – a true sleazy heavy rocker. If Jack The Bastard were a real person, you wouldn’t want to meet him, that’s for sure.
8. Where There’s A Whip, There’s A Way (Wake Me When It’s Over 1989)
The opener of the “Wake Me When It’s Over” album is one of the longest songs Faster Pussycat ever made, reaching the 6:44 mark. It’s a cool, sleazy, Aerosmith-esque tune that truly showcases the vibe Faster Pussycat was aiming for on their second album. Lyrically, it delves into some S&M themes, albeit in a very cartoonish manner, some would say. Anyway, it’s a well-crafted song that truly deserves to be on this list. Great co-work between the frontman Tamie Downe and band’s guitar duo Brent Muscat and Greg Steele.
7. Poison Ivy (Wake Me When It’s Over 1989)
“Poison Ivy,” written by Taime Down and bassist Eric Stacy, is certainly one of the most recognizable Faster Pussycat songs, probably thanks to its video release. It’s a great rock crossover tune with additional instruments like piano and saxophone that showcase the band’s intention to experiment. It’s a tale about having a toxic partner that we’ve all had at some point in our lives.
6. You’re So Vain (1990)
Here is the one and only cover song that made it onto this list. The song was recorded for the Rubáiyát: Elektra’s 40th Anniversary compilation set in 1990, in which Elektra Records asked their current artists to cover songs from their historic catalogue. Faster Pussycat got Carly Simon’s song, and arguably, they did an astonishing job. They gave everything they could to make this song their own, and the success of that process is still visible all these years later, as this tune remains one of the staples of every Faster Pussycat live set.
5. Slip Of The Tongue (Wake Me When It’s Over 1989)
In fifth place, we have another song from the 1989 album. This one was written by the band’s frontman, Taime Down. It is a song about how the band thought the media perceived them back in the day – no matter what you do, you will always have critics. Musically speaking, it’s a classic Faster Pussycat sleazy riffing tune that reminds a lot of the songs from the first album.
4. Nonstop To Nowhere (Whipped! 1992)
Written by Taime Down and guitarist Greg Steele, this almost seven-minute-long song that opens “Whipped!” is arguably one of the best Faster Pussycat songs ever made. The anthemic tale of “the lame train that nonstop goes to nowhere” reached no. 35 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Charts in the year when the cat crew competed not only with fellow 80s glam rockers but also with grunge and alternative newcomers. And you know what? With a tune like this (and the whole “Whipped!” album), they could have competed with them for many, many more years… but heck, somebody didn’t allow that to happen.
3. Don’t Change That Song (Faster Pussycat 1987)
Back to the times when things were much better and simpler for bands like Faster Pussycat, we have a song that opens their debut album from 1987. True to the bone, a classic filthy cat tune, it was the epitome of sleaze. And if you don’t understand what sleaze is in the music of this era, just compare this one to the sound of Poison, Bon Jovi, or Warrant, and you will get it. The video for this song was directed by Russ Meyer, who directed a movie “Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill” from which the band took the name. P.S. This song got the same points as the next one, so they are both basically ranked at no. 2.
2. Bathroom Wall (Faster Pussycat 1987)
Another one from the debut album, the twin sister of the previous tune, “Bathroom Wall,” is one of the most recognizable songs from Faster Pussycat’s catalogue. This insanely catchy yet dirty tune sounds like a creepy combination of Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and New York Dolls, mixed in their unique sleazy manner. There are always plenty of numbers on these filthy bathroom walls, right? I really wonder who Taime got when he dialed that number 281-7668…
1.House Of Pain (Wake Me When It’s Over 1989)
Okay, guys, this is it. The best Faster Pussycat song of all time is, of course – “House Of Pain.” Confirmed again after all these years, this best-charted Faster Pussycat song of all time (no. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100) has kept them popular to this day. Although it’s a ballad (and the author of this text really hates ballads), this one was not your usual crying soap opera thing. This one was dark, heavy, and disturbing—the pure opposite of everything similar from that period. Beautifully written by Taime Downe and Greg Steele, it tells the story of a broken family, and it is Taime’s personal one. The song got a new life in these modern times after it was featured in the HBO series “Peacemaker.” Anyway, Taime and the cats, thank you for this masterpiece!
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So, the 10 best Faster Pussycat songs of all time are chosen. But, that’s not all. Stick with us for some more interesting facts about this poll.
- The albums that had all their songs voted at least once are the 1987 self-titled album and “Wake Me When It’s Over.”
- Overall, the 2006 album “Power And The Glory Hole” received the least amount of votes.
- Songs that haven’t received any votes are: from 1992’s “Whipped!” – “Cry Baby” and “Out With A Bang”; from 2006’s “The Power And The Glory Hole” – “No. 1 With A Bullet,” “Useless,” “Disintegrate,” and “Bye Bye.” Including the newest cover single “Pirate Love” that was released in 2022.
If we compare all albums based on the number of points received from this poll (where each vote gives 1 point), here is the unofficial Faster Pussycat album ranking based on that:
- Wake Me When It’s Over (1989)
- Faster Pussycat (1987)
- Whipped! (1992)
- The Power And The Glory Hole (2006)
In the end, to conclude this Fan Poll here are the list of all the songs that received votes from 11th place and below.
11. Babylon 12. Little Dove 13. Ship Rolls In, Please Dear 15. The Power And The Glory Hole, Shooting You Down, NOLA, Madam Ruby’s Love Boutique, Cathouse, No Room For Emotions, City Has No Heart, Ain’t No Way Around It, Big Dictionary, Only Way Out, Sex,Drugs and RnR 26. Pulling Weeds, Tattoo, Maid In Wonderland, Friends, Mr. Lovedog, Pornstar 32. Crying Shame, Ariozna Indian Doll, Like A Ghost 35. Gonna Walk, The Body Thief, Gotta Love It, Hey You, Shut Up And Fuck Charge Me Up
And that’s a wrap! Thank you again for participating in this poll. Until next time, if you like what we’re doing here, share this post and follow us on the interwebs. And, of course, follow Faster Pussycat and check out their touring schedule so you don’t miss them if they’re around your place.
You can also check our previous Fan Poll that we did for Swedish sleaze rockers Hardcore Superstar.
Author: JP
