Gettin' Kinda Itchie: The Groups That Made The Mamas & The Papas

When reading Gettin' Kinda Itchie, on more than one occasion, you will have to remind yourselves that Richard Campbell was not actually there when all these musically historic convergences transpired in real time. Such is the fly-on-the-wall intimate feel achieved in this book – a product of decades’ worth of passion and devotion for The Mamas and The Papas and the four members’ body-of-work: individually and collectively, pre and post-group: culminating here in this ultimate love letter-meets-professional-triumph that has garnered the highest praise from original and last-surviving band member, Michelle Phillips herself. Richard Campbell has left no stone unturned in his exhaustive deep dive into the foursome’s earliest musical beginnings, so much so that immediate family members of John, Cass, Michelle, and Denny have – through this book – learned hitherto unknown facts and fascinating trivia about those nascent partnerships, collaborations, friendships, and their ultimate coming together as The Mamas and The Papas. This book belongs on every major book shop shelf – not just the music ones. It should be read, studied, and celebrated for the creative and inspiring historical triumph that it is. What a ride!

Wow so much I didn't knowA brilliant read so much hard work gone in to this.Now to start collecting again

Detailed and thoroughly engrossing look at the pre-history of the Mamas & Papas. This story needed to be told in detail and this is the definitive account.

Richard Campbell has created something really spectacular. This is the book that fans have been waiting for! Richard Campbell has spent years researching, collecting, and interviewing all things related to Cass, Denny, John and Michelle. This book is truly a labor of love, and it is evident from Mr. Campbell’s writing that he is very knowledgeable and is the number one source for all things Mamas & Papas related. Richard Campbell has been researching and interviewing his subjects for years and it shows. Mr. Campbell has created chapters devoted to each member of The Mamas & the Papas and their respective bands before they made it big. Each chapter takes you on a detailed journey of how these early bands evolved and then dissolved leading to each member finding their way into what became The Mamas & the Papas. If you enjoy 1960’s music and the nostalgia of that era, you can’t help but enjoy this book. If you are a fan of Cass, Denny, John or Michelle, you will absolutely love this book!The book contains many never- before seen pictures, items from the author’s personal collections and interviews that have not previously been published. Mr. Campbell did a wonderful job organizing his sources, with detailed citations and notes. He created a very detailed and interesting appendix to the book as well. The timeline that Mr. Campbell has presented is absolutely amazing as all other books are rather vague in terms of laying out when various events took place. Mr. Campbell presents his information in a straightforward historical manner, free of any personal judgement and has created a nice, easy read.This is the best book to date on The Mamas & the Papas, telling their prequel story before coming together. It is a must have for anyone who is a fan. Even if you are well read on the band and its members, I guarantee that you will learn something new from Mr. Campbell’s book. There isn’t a single bad thing about this book, except that it will leave you wanting more!!!!!!!

Interesante repaso a la historia de los grupos por los que pasaron los miembros de The Mamas And The Papas antes de formar el cuarteto. Muy informativo, a cargo del historiador del grupo Richard Campbell. Contiene fotos fruto del trabajo exhaustivo del autor para documentarse a lo largo de muchos años. Muy recomendable para seguidores del grupo e interesados en grupos folk de finales de los 50s, principios de los 60.

Not only fans of The Mamas & The Papas get their money's worth here! Words fail me as to how author Richard Campbell addresses this group. He has so much knowledge about the band that even as a fan it leaves me speechless. In this book Richard Cambell dedicates himself to the time before The Mamas & The Papas. Absolutely worth reading! @Richard: Thank you for your dedication!

Richard Campbell brings his 40 years of meticulous research and organization to us in this book, and it is amazing!!!!! He delves deeply into the happenings of a group of young talented and driven individuals, at a time when the world was waking up to contemporary folk music and experiencing the transformation to folk rock. He explains how young John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, Denny Doherty and Cass Elliot started their careers and how their life experiences and decisions led them to each other, to form The Mamas & The Papas.Mr. Campbell documents each step along the way with wonderful photos to help the reader experience the ride. There are photos on every page, and they include ads from old newspapers advertising performing engagements, newspaper articles, rare personal photos, marriage certificates, and so much more!The story of The Mamas & The Papas inception is entertaining and Mr. Campbell brings to the book, a personal energy, through his many interviews and friendships, as we learn intimate details through his contacts.To make your reading experience even more enjoyable, the author has created a companion You Tube channel, just search the same name as the book. Here he brings together the music from each group that is created along the journey, that leads to The Mamas & The Papas. John’s groups, The Abstracts, The Smoothies, The Journeymen and The New Journeymen. Denny’s group, The Halifax Three, Cass’s group, The Big Three, as well as, Cass and Denny’s group, The Mugwumps. It is so much fun to listen to the music as you read about it happening.I totally enjoyed this book and learned so much, I’m going to read it again!!! Buy it, you will not be disappointed!!

Gettin’ Kinda Itchie, by Richard Campbell, is a marvelous overview of the various folk music groups that helped create the foundation for the beloved pop quartet, The Mamas and the Papas (M&P). It’s a brisk and readable survey of early lives of John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, Cass Elliot, and Denny Doherty. We also get insight into the early groups and fascinating people that helped form their musical talents. Groups such as The Journeymen, The Big 3, The Halifax Three, and The Mugwumps are chronicled. We are introduced to musicians such as John Sebastian, Tim Rose, James Hendricks, Scott McKenzie, and many others.Lots of great stories and antidotes (which I enjoy) are interspersed with a history of those bygone times of the short-lived folk music boom. There are interpersonal conflicts, scuffling for gigs, gossip, new facts, and lots of great (some rare) photos.I’m a Cass Elliot fanatic, so I greatly enjoyed the book. Anyone looking for a fine, well-written overview of the roots of the endlessly fascinating Mamas and Papas, need look no further.As a bonus, for those who love detail and minutia, there’s and excellent sessionography and discography.