The Monkees' music was recorded by "the wrecking crew", a gang of session musicians who were involved in most of the 60's hits. There is a very nice documentary

The Monkees' music was recorded by "the wrecking crew", a gang of session musicians who were involved in most of the 60's hits. There is a very nice documentary about them on netflix named "The Wrecking Crew" In the documentary they explain how these session musicians where so good, the Monkees' trained for a year before they could play the hits close enough for live concerts.