Other than sharing the same lyrical theme (the circus) I don’t see musically how it’s a rip off at all.
Musically, it's not. But lyrically, describing all the things that the poster says will be seen at a circus? More than just "the same lyrical theme", that's a rip-off. And Davy was no Lennon in the lyrical department.
The Poster Written by Davy and Steve Pitts One of the weaker tracks on BBM. This song belongs on a children's album as @Turk Thrust already inferred. Skippable. 2/5
2/5 - This is actually my “favorite” of the 3 new Davy songs......though still a 2. I guess it’s that because the lyrics aren’t about 11 year old girls (though “Mr. Kite” has already been done), and I kind of like the carnival-type keyboard. This might’ve been better for one of the British women pop singers......I can picture this being a fairly good song for someone like Cilla Black, Lulu, Petula Clark or so forth.......but not The Monkees.
The Poster: 5/5 I really do like this one. It's catchy and Davy does a great job singing it. I find the lyrics fun. I also like the little transition from I'll Be Back Up On My Feet to this one when listening to the album (see, some "millennials" do pay attention and appreciate little touches like that lol ) Really, at this point, is my rating (for both Davy's songs and this album) a surprise? Umm, guys, what are you?..... Hey, put that down!
The Poster - 4/5 Always liked it. Still do. As a young child I would be taken to the circus at Christmas. It paints a picture. It wasn’t until I heard King Crimson’s Lizard that the true malevolence of the cirkus became clear. I don’t think Davy knew either.
But, for me, at least, that’s the problem with just about all of the Davy songs on BBM. They’re all a regression, with the exception of “Daydream Believer,” if you think of this in “group” terms. Obviously, the notion of “the group” ended with the BBM album. At least “DB,”:recorded before the rest of this album, had the whole group actually on it. “Valleri” wasn’t bad either (We’ll get to that one soon), but that’s a song leftover from a year or two earlier. Anyhow, “The Poster.” Like “Dream World” a week ago, this is a song I hadn’t listened to in decades but decided to give a fair shot here. Like “Dream World,” after hearing it again I still don’t like it. But I’ll be generous here and give it 2/5. Not a song I’ll be going back to though.
This really reminds me of another song, but I can't quite remember it. It is what it is, perhaps a Monkees' 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer'. Davey does a good job of it, and it's not as boring as his other songs. And, it's an original. So, I'm going to give it: 3/5
I will give "The Poster" a 3, probably being a bit generous but it sounds like almost every other Davy song to me. No other Monkees around, but did not know that for the first 30 years I knew the song. I guess Davy was the most consistent Monkee as the first two LP's and the last five were basically his solo work with many of the same musicians and it is all about the same except for some highlights and a few very lowlights. Soon 2's and 3's will be replaced with a string of 5's on the next record.
3/5 The Poster Not a favorite of mine and Davy getting his hands in the songwriting side finally realizing how much monetary value it is (Thanks to Nesmith). Would have preferred "War Games"on this record than this but than 2 war songs on an album would not make management happy.
Poster -- 2/5. There are worse songs, but it's not very good. To me, BBM has always been 3 great songs, 2 good songs and 7 really bad ones. This revisit of the "bad songs" has not changed my opinion of it at all.
"The Poster" Ehh, not much. It's pleasant enough, I don't skip it, but it's not one I seek on its own. I'm sure these songs will be coming up shortly, but listen to "The Poster", "I'm Gonna Try" and "Party"...it all sounds like the same song! Of course, which of the 3 is best I don't know, they all aren't all that hot. It was good that David was trying his hand at songwriting but he wasn't going very far at this point. 2/5
The Poster to me is just so inoffensive, I have no idea why it’s here. The best part is that the melody makes me think of the classic Thomas the Tank Engine theme that I grew up with. I replace it with the 1967 Stereo Mix of Carlisle Wheeling. Interestingly, the transition from Feet is missing on the UK LP! 2/5
I just searched to see whatever became of Steve Pitts. Looks like he passed away two years ago after a law career. Interesting article, that touches on some of things we've been talking about with "BBM". Check out Peter's thoughts on horns and strings! "Writing Songs With The Monkees" by Steve Pitts
'The Poster' - No, thank you. This is the illegitimate child of 'Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite' who no one wants to acknowledge - sad and vulnerable, but too unlikeable to really pity. (Sorry for being so scathing, but it's not even quite bad enough to have fun with.)
I wish they had forgotten to load "Mustang" on that flight. An awful song. Even worse than "The Day We Fall In Love".
