Album Notes

Hi.

Mitch here. First thing first - that's not me on the cover. I promise.

If you enjoy compact, whimsical, oddly melodic, sometimes funny little pop songs then you should enjoy "The Importance of Sauce". But beware, the arrangements and instrumentation are not always predictable or ordinary and 95% of the time I've written, played, recorded and mixed everything myself in my home studio.

Guitar genius Dave Gregory, formerly of XTC, plays some dizzying riffs on "Simplification" and several of the songs on the disc were created during a 5 day long songwriting course I took in England taught by Mr. Ray Davies of The Kinks. He even helped out with a few of the numbers.

I won't say it's Beatlesque or pop or rock or even alternative... it's just me.

Thanks and enjoy.

Here's what some others have said about "The Importance of Sauce":

The whole thing is extremely charming.Lots of great songs filled with memorable hooks and wonderful lyrics
-- Dave Gregory

Mitch is a funny and interesting little man
-- Ray Davies

I'm in love with it! Great kwirky pop in the Kinks/XTC/Beefheart vein -- Ayrton Mugnaini Jr.

SAUCE is so much fun, & "Simplification" is surely mind-blowing! I'm actually considering Covering it! -- R.Stevie Moore.

A tasty, original concoction that is both funny and fun. Buy it for the lyrics; buy it for the Dave Gregory "get in, blow their shit away, and get out" guitar solo; buy it for the excellent photography in the liner notes; just BUY IT -- Todd Bernhardt.

You are a poet! You are a satirist. You are a pretty darned good songwriter! --Roger Ferguson

Bloody well done -- Becki DiGregorio

Cool songs, with the great sense of humor you're rightly famous for, you're in excellent voice, and the playing is good, too. And I liked the design and photography as well. All in all, a really cool deal -- Tom Donald

An inspiring photography, music and lyric package. Kind of reminds me of vaudeville and XTC -- Tim Archibald

Overall while I hear influences the sound is original, personal and decidedly non-commercial... power to ya! I'm digging it -- Eleanor Ramsay

Fascinating lyrics and fabulous photos! I'm impressed that you produced this all yourself! -- KateShiban

"This Friend" is very XTC -- Geoff Murrell

It's brill -- Geoff Lewis

"From the scintillating salvo of 'Simplification' to the waning strains of 'All the Best to You and Yours,' 'The Importance of Sauce' is a triumph of postmodern pop perfection! Plus, Mitch Friedman, pictured on the cover in a dynamic musical pose, is quite the stud, if this photo is anything to go by!" --- Carolyn Hamilton

I listened to your CD this weekend and once again, I will say how impressed I am with it! Big pats on the back from me, friend -- Ginny Dodds

Is brilliant, really excellent, really first rate. Fantastic, top stuff.....what can I say? Plus, it makes you happy to listen to it, which is something not even some very brilliant records do, so that's extra -- Jude Montague


Wow! You really hit a homerun here. Nice wide variety pack -- Jim Smart

I'll find a musical phrase floating around my brain and realize it's from "..Sauce". So, I'd rate it catchy and memorable. The lyrics are clever and funny as well -- Alice Twyne

It's not just funny but the stuff is funny and good. It kicks Daniel Johnston's ass, that's for sure. There's some really solid songwriting there and the lyrics are great. The record is good because it's really you. It's solidly your voice and it's polished -- Jim Fields

Very clever lyrics, your voice is good as well -- Allison Yashinsky

It's very nice and refreshing to hear someone putting out original music. Great JOB! -- Rob Murphree

It's damned silly -- John Relph