The Frim-Fram Sauce
Song performed by Nat King Cole
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"The Frim-Fram Sauce" is a jazz song written by Redd Evans and Joe Ricardel.[1] The lyrics of the song are from the point of view of a diner who isn't satisfied with corned beef, rye bread, or french-fried potatoes; the diner wants "the frim-fram sauce with the ossenfay", and also "chiffaufer, on the side".
In 2002, journalist William Safire said frim-fram sauce was a variant of flim-flam or deceit[2] and "ussin-fay" was pig Latin for "fussing", meaning "playing about fretfully".[2] Safire quoted singer Diana Krall on the meaning of "shafafa": "'It's all about sex,' she replied innocently."[2]
The song was made famous by The King Cole Trio whose recording on October 11, 1945 (Capitol 224)[3] reached the Billboard charts with a peak position of No. 19.[4] "The Frim-Fram Sauce" was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald with Louis Armstrong in 1946 and many other artists have also made recordings[5] including Diana Krall who recorded the song for her albums Stepping Out (1993) and All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio (1996).
