The Frim-Fram Sauce
Encyclopedia
"The Frim Fram Sauce" is a jazz
song, made famous by The Nat King Cole Trio and performed by a variety of musicians over the years. "The Frim Fram Sauce" was written in 1945. The lyrics were written by Redd Evans
, who wrote words to a number of Cole songs. The music was composed by Joe Ricardel, known as the co-writer of the "Brooklyn Dodger Jump", among others.
"The Frim Fram Sauce" is best remembered for its silly lyrics. The narrator speaks to a waiter in a restaurant, as if in the process of ordering food. Throughout the song, the customer lists numerous real foods that he doesn't want, such as pork chops and fish cakes. In the chorus, he explains what he really wants: some "frim fram sauce" with the "oss and fay" and "shifafa" on the side. None of these foods exist, so at the end he gives up and says: "If you don't have it, just bring me a check for the water!"
Although considered a novelty song
, "The Frim Fram Sauce" has nonetheless endured as a memorable tune of its era. It has been performed by numerous artists including Ella Fitzgerald
(with Louis Armstrong
), Slim and Slam (Slim Gaillard
and Slam Stewart
), Les Brown
, King Crimson
, John Pizzarelli
, Diana Krall
, who both included the song in her 1993 debut album Stepping Out as well as in her 1996 Nat King Cole tribute album, All For You
, and Mandy Mann (2005). American blues guitarist Bob Brozman
also included a version of the song, with somewhat revised lyrics on his 2007 album, "Post-Industrial Blues".
The song was also performed on the American Idol
TV show in 2002 by Ryan Starr
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
song, made famous by The Nat King Cole Trio and performed by a variety of musicians over the years. "The Frim Fram Sauce" was written in 1945. The lyrics were written by Redd Evans
Redd Evans
Redd Evans was a music lyricist whose songs have been recorded by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Doris Day amongst many others....
, who wrote words to a number of Cole songs. The music was composed by Joe Ricardel, known as the co-writer of the "Brooklyn Dodger Jump", among others.
"The Frim Fram Sauce" is best remembered for its silly lyrics. The narrator speaks to a waiter in a restaurant, as if in the process of ordering food. Throughout the song, the customer lists numerous real foods that he doesn't want, such as pork chops and fish cakes. In the chorus, he explains what he really wants: some "frim fram sauce" with the "oss and fay" and "shifafa" on the side. None of these foods exist, so at the end he gives up and says: "If you don't have it, just bring me a check for the water!"
Although considered a novelty song
Novelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
, "The Frim Fram Sauce" has nonetheless endured as a memorable tune of its era. It has been performed by numerous artists including Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
(with Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
), Slim and Slam (Slim Gaillard
Slim Gaillard
Bulee "Slim" Gaillard was an American jazz singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist, noted for his vocalese singing and word play in a language he called "Vout"...
and Slam Stewart
Slam Stewart
Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart was an African American jazz bass player whose trademark style was his ability to bow the bass and simultaneously hum or sing an octave higher. He was originally a violin player before switching to bass at the age of 20.-Biography:Stewart was born in Englewood, New...
), Les Brown
Les Brown (bandleader)
Les Brown, Sr. and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the late 1930s, initially as the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils that Brown led while a student at Duke University. He was the first president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences...
, King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, John Pizzarelli
John Pizzarelli
John Paul Pizzarelli, Jr. is an American jazz guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader. He has had a lengthy career as a recording artist, performing for a variety of labels that include Telarc Records, RCA Records and Chesky Records, among others...
, Diana Krall
Diana Krall
Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide; altogether, she has sold more albums than any other female jazz artist during the 1990s and 2000s...
, who both included the song in her 1993 debut album Stepping Out as well as in her 1996 Nat King Cole tribute album, All For You
All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio
All for You is the third album by Canadian jazz pianist and vocalist Diana Krall, released in 1996 by GRP Records, Inc.- Track listing :...
, and Mandy Mann (2005). American blues guitarist Bob Brozman
Bob Brozman
Bob Brozman is an American guitarist and ethnomusicologist.He has performed in a number of styles such as Gypsy jazz, calypso, Blues, ragtime, Hawaiian and Caribbean music. Brozman has also collaborated with musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds such as India, Africa, Japan, Papua New Guinea...
also included a version of the song, with somewhat revised lyrics on his 2007 album, "Post-Industrial Blues".
The song was also performed on the American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
TV show in 2002 by Ryan Starr
Ryan Starr
Ryan Starr is an American female singer, songwriter and actress. She ranked seventh on the season 1 of the talent search television series American Idol...
.