I often can be heard lamenting about festival music going out of print. Indeed, this was long one of the recordings I missed. I purchased the cassette version of this album back in 1993 while fire breathing at the Texas Renaissance faire. Over the years, and after numerous moves, the tape vanished. Imagine my delight when I discovered that it had been re-released on CD!

The album is a perfect blend of solid music and screwball comedy, interlacing humorous sketches and introductions through the album. Among the songs on the album are; "The Fly", "5 Constipated Men", and "Drink Boys Drink".  Any of these three tracks is enough reason to purchase the CD. 

After twelve years I was still humming "The Fly" until this CD gave me the full lyrics again. The  song is light, catchy and everything one would expect from early Axel the Sot. "Drink Boys Drink", by Gibbon the Troubadour is another fantastic example of why Gibbon has been so popular for so long.

Of course, the other songs on the album are wonderful as well. Certainly, much of the humor is a bit sophomoric, but what do you expect from a guy calling himself "Axel the Sot?" Still, the duo make known their feelings on the then growing political correctness movie with the "Phhhart Song". Trust me, while the song might not be biting social commentary, it is still a blast. 

Overall there are several reasons to love this CD. First, it is a perfect example of what faire albums used to be like. In days when anyone can release an album without ever leaving home, sometimes quality can slip a bit. This old recording has solid production values

Another reason is how perfectly this album captures the feeling of faire. Indeed, many long time rennies may well be swept away by the nostalgia this album can summon. While listening to this CD you can close your eyes and be back sitting at Largo's Ladyhawke Pub. 

The CD is available from Chivalry Music for $15 and is worth every penny. Thank the powers that be for bringing back this delight from the past and putting it back in print.