The Frim-Fram Sauce

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"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, and is 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 "aussen fay" and "chafafa" on the side. Of course, none of these foods really 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 included the song in her 1996 Nat King Cole tribute album, All For You, and recently Mandy Mann in 2005. The song returned to fame when it was also performed on the American Idol TV show in 2002 by Ryan Starr.