Dave BrubeckTake Five (5:25)

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About This Track

“Take Five” is a classic jazz piece first recorded by The Dave Brubeck Quartet and released on the 1959 album “Time Out”. It became the first million-selling jazz single on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1961, at a time when rock and roll was still in fashion.

“Take Five” became Brubeck’s best known, and signature, tune. It was composed by Paul Desmond, the group’s saxophonist and became famous for its distinctive, catchy saxophone melody and use of the unusual quintuple (5/4) time, from which its name is derived. While “Take Five” was not the first jazz composition to use this meter, it was the first of United States mainstream significance.

The original single was recorded at Columbia’s 30th Street Studios in New York City on June 25, July 1 & August 18, 1959. The track features Eugene Wright on bass and Joe Morello on drums.

The song was recorded and broadcast many times by Brubeck’ Quartet, and has been recorded by scores of artists, from Swedish singer Monica Zetterlund in 1962 to a dub version by King Tubby in 2002. Some versions have included lyrics, including a 1961 recording with lyrics written by Dave Brubeck and his wife Iola and sung by Carmen McRae. The tune has also been included in countless movies and television soundtracks, and still receives significant radio play.

The composer, Paul Desmond, died in 1977 and left his rights to royalties for performances and compositions, including “Take Five,” to the American Red Cross. Since that time, the organization has received approximately $100,000 per year in combined royalties.
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Albums featuring this track

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  • Last-Firstborn

    Awesome!

    Monday afternoon
  • Lewdown

    Birmingham UK that is.

    13 days ago
  • Lewdown

    Last heard live in Birmingham late 9 tys. Still a thrill.

    13 days ago
  • idiomisme

    Yay!

    23 days ago
  • ELMNTzero

    Nothing like this on a rainy day!

    last month
  • andreask65

    marvelous

    last month
  • Monade2010

    pure brilliance ♥.¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ~ ♡ ~ ♡ ~ ♡ ~

    last month
  • Forteski

    Splendid!

    last month
  • AmaNoSode

    ♥♥♥♥♥♥

    last month
  • steamboat58

    Good one, thanks Dora

    last month
  • CatEyesAndCurls

    The Best by Brubeck...well, Desmond really. I love the vid of the Quartet performing this song, they get so into it.

    March 2012
  • Savant2

    Ah yes, the classics.

    March 2012
  • BocaJr1992

    my drum teacher was taught by the drummer on the song = Magnificent

    March 2012
  • davidbowiegirl

    Good

    March 2012
  • myrimelomania

    El clásico numero uno, simplemente fantastico!

    March 2012
  • PurplePostRock

    Calming ♥

    March 2012
  • peashfuzz

    ...zz paul dezzzzzzzzz

    March 2012
  • GarethSherry

    Classic.

    February 2012
  • tomvecc

    I'm not keen on jazz, but I like that pretty much

    February 2012
  • hjdiet

    It really doesn't get any better than this track...

    February 2012
See all 499 shouts

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