"In Gettin’ Kinda Itchie , Richard Campbell meticulously puts together the puzzle of how The Mamas & The Papas were made, and he gets it exactly right." – Michelle Phillips, Original Member of The Mamas & The Papas, Actress, and Songwriter Gettin' Kinda Itchie traces the circuitous lives of the various groups in which the members of The Mamas & The Papas performed in the years before the formation of their group. Many of the groups are long lost to history: The Abstracts, The Smoothies, The Journeymen, The Hepsters, The Colonials, The Halifax Three, The Triumvirate, The Big 3, Mac's Pipe & Drum House Band, Cass Elliot & The Big 3, D & Z, The Mugwumps, and The New Journeymen. The groups may now be answers to trivia questions, but they each contributed to the sound, style, and persona that became the bedrock of American folk rock. Along the way they intersected the circles of artists like David Crosby, Gordon Lightfoot, John Sebastian and Scott McKenzie. More than a verbal flow chart, this book is the untold prequel story to The Mamas & The Papas whose harmonies soothed and satisfied millions amid the reverberating cacophony of the times. Social upheaval, riots, and the war in Vietnam were largely quelled with dreams of California and a song about the common reality of the first day of the week. The Mamas & The Papas stood as troubadours of a generation and a powerful American answer to the British Invasion. Between 1965 and 1968 the group garnered top ten hits like "Monday Monday," "Creeque Alley," "Dedicated To The One I Love," "I Saw Her Again" and "California Dreamin'," which would ultimately go on to sell tens of millions of records. They broke new ground as architects of the historic 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival, which kicked off the Summer of Love and the next wave of popular music. It was the end of a long path-a magic circle. This book is about that magic and that circle. It is about the groups, music, and experiences that created The Mamas & The Papas. It is the account of The Smoothies carrying spears in costume, and of the FBI tracking The Mugwumps in Cold War Washington, D.C., and secret marriages to avoid the Draft and keep on singing. This is four musicians' journey from coffeehouses to nightclubs and gymnasiums, before leaving folk music behind and taking flight. ​ Campbell has tracked down numerous associates in his quest to chronicle a complicated story. The result is a clear account of when and where the Ms & Ps sound sprung. -MOJO Totally absorbing! -Shindig! A hugely impressive work....Beautifully written and illustrated, rich in detail and character,Gettin' Kinda Itchie, like its subjects, is pitch perfect. An unexpected delight. -Ugly Things Magazine Extremely well written...a vivid, easy to digest prequel. -Goldmine Magazine InGettin' Kinda Itchie, Richard Campbell meticulously puts together the puzzle of how The Mamas & The Papas were made, and he gets it exactly right. -Michelle Phillips, Original Member of The Mamas & The Papas, Actress, and Songwriter Getting' Kinda Itchieis a gift to anyone who has interest in this slice of our culture. It was like a trip to the folk-rock section of the Louvre. -Marshall Brickman, Academy Award Winner (Annie Hall) and Tony Award Winner (Jersey Boys), Original Member of The New Journeymen Telling the prequel story of the journey that led to the creation of The Mamas & The Papas,Gettin' Kinda Itchiefinally completes the picture and is a must-read for any true fan. -Owen Elliot-Kugell, Daughter of Cass Elliot Gettin' Kinda Itchiewas an enthralling, and revelatory read. You will feel as though you were there as these brilliant, wild, and flawed artists found their destinies. -Mackenzie Phillips, Film and Television Star, Singer, and daughter of John Phillips Richard Campbell's incredible wealth of knowledge and dedication to The Mamas & The Papas has always been impressive, and I'm so glad he has built a home for it. Meticulously researched and highly engaging,Gettin' Kinda Itchieblew me away. -Emberly Doherty, daughter of Denny Doherty Gettin' Kinda Itchie, Richard Campbell's exposition of my father's early days, and those of his cohorts, was eye-opening, touching, and thorough. Featuring many photographs that I had never seen; it was wonderful to get a peek into those emergent years that led to The Mamas & The Papas. -Jeffrey Phillips, son of John Phillips As a self-proclaimed expert on The Mamas & The Papas I learned so much from Gettin' Kinda Itchie. Names from my childhood now fit. It all makes sense now. - Jessica Doherty Woods, daughter of Denny Doherty Richard Campbell knows more about The Mamas & The Papas than anyone I have ever met. It's a pleasure seeing this book come to life. -John Doherty, son of Denny Doherty ​ In the 1940s and 1950s music was a required subject in school, and all children learned it. When these kids came of age in the '60s, they shared and exchanged their common musi