Before soundtracking the Summer of Love as The Mamas & The Papas , musicians J ohn Phillips, Michelle Phillips, Cass Elliot, and Denny Doherty honed their talents in groups like The Smoothies, The Journeymen, The Halifax Three, The Big 3, and The Mugwumps. In Gettin' Kinda Itchie , author Richard Campbell traces the circuitous lives of these groups and individuals-featuring secret marriages, hilarious hijinks, and FBI investigations-as they each contributed to the sound, style, and persona that set the foundation of American folk rock. The definitive untold Prequel to the story of The Mamas and The Papas is documented with scores of firsthand interviews, over 400 images , and 600 endnotes cultivated from from a forty-year collection and archive. The book includes a twenty-five page appendix with the most comprehensive Sessionography, Discography and Concertography for all of the various groups. Crossing paths with the likes of David Crosby , Gordon Lightfoot , John Sebastian and others, Gettin' Kinda Itchie traces the fascinating intersecting circles of these artists during the early 1960s folk-revival. This book is about the groups, music and experiences that created The Mamas & The Papas. This is four musicians' journey from coffeehouses, nightclubs and gymnasiums, before leaving folk music behind and taking flight. The harmonies of The Mamas & The Papas soothed and satisfied millions amid the reverberating cacophony of the times. Social upheaveal, 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 group 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. 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 Richard Campbell serves as a Circuit Court Judge in Richmond, Virginia, and has been a judge and attorney in Virginia for nearly 30 years. Longer than that, he has been an avid collector of all things Mamas & Papas. "The Keeper of the Flame" as Michelle Phillips once dubbed him, Judge Campbell has been a consultant and/or expert for television programs such as A & E Biography, Lifetime's Intimate Portrait, VH1's Behind the Music, Bravo TV (Canada) and E! True Hollywood Story. He worked as a special consultant and contributor to De