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The Wizards from Kansas were an obscure country-psych rock group originating from Kansas. Formed in 1968, four of the five original members, hailing from the Kansas City area, created a band called New West and began performing in the Lawrence, Kansas area, particularly at clubs and parties near Kansas University. Guitarist Robert Manson Crain, who was from California, joined the group shortly after, completing the quintet. Initially, they referred to themselves as "Pig Newton," later evolving to "Pig Newton and the Wizards from Kansas." The name "Pig Newton" was an inside joke, as there was no member named Pig, and the band often concocted stories about this fictional character to amuse themselves and confuse others. The group played locally and toured the East Coast in the summer of 1969, earning an invitation to perform at the Fillmore East that fall. This opportunity led to several record deals, which they initially declined. Eventually, in late 1969, they signed with Mercury Records, who requested that they drop the "Pig" from their name. In July and August of 1970, the Wizards From Kansas recorded their self-titled debut album, which was released in October. However, just a week before its release, drummer Marc Caplan and bassist Bob Menadier left the band to pursue jazz, leaving the group without a lineup to promote the album. Consequently, Mercury Records lost interest, and the album went unnoticed. The Wizards From Kansas disband

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