<P> After working on the set all day, the Monkees (usually Dolenz or Jones) would be called into the recording studio to cut vocal tracks . As the band was essential to this aspect of the recording process, there were few limits on how long they could spend in the recording studio, and the result was an extensive catalogue of unreleased recordings . </P> <P> Pleased with their initial efforts, Columbia (over Kirshner's objections) planned to send the Monkees out to play live concerts . The massive success of the series--and its spin - off records--created intense pressure to mount a touring version of the group . Against the initial wishes of the producers, the band went out on the road and made their debut live performance in December 1966 in Hawaii . </P> <P> They had no time to rehearse a live performance except between takes on set . They worked on the TV series all day, recorded in the studio at night and slept very little . The weekends were usually filled with special appearances or filming of special sequences . These performances were sometimes used during the actual series . The episode "Too Many Girls (Fern and Davy)" opens with a live version of "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" being performed as the scene was shot . One entire episode was filmed featuring live music . The last show of the premiere season, "Monkees on Tour", was shot in a documentary style by filming a concert in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 21, 1967 . Bob Rafelson wrote and directed the episode . </P> <P> In DVD commentary tracks included in the Season One release, Nesmith admitted that Tork was better at playing guitar than bass . In Tork's commentary he stated that Jones was a good drummer, and had the live performance lineups been based solely on playing ability, it should have been Tork on guitar, Nesmith on bass and Jones on drums, with Dolenz taking the fronting role . The four Monkees performed all the instruments and vocals for most of the live set . The most notable exceptions were during each member's solo sections where, during the December 1966--May 1967 tour, they were backed by the Candy Store Prophets . During the summer 1967 tour of the United States and the UK (from which the Live 1967 recordings are taken), they were backed by a band called the Sundowners . In 1968 the Monkees toured Australia and Japan . The results were far better than expected . Wherever they went, the group was greeted by scenes of fan adulation reminiscent of Beatlemania . This gave the singers increased confidence in their fight for control over the musical material chosen for the series . </P>

Who came first the beatles or the monkees