Take Five
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Take Five” | ||
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| Single by The Dave Brubeck Quartet from the album Time Out |
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| Released | June 25, 1959 | |
| Recorded | 1959 | |
| Genre | Jazz | |
| Length | 5:28 | |
| Label | Columbia/Legacy | |
| Writer(s) | Paul Desmond | |
| Producer | Teo Macero | |
"Take Five" is a classic jazz piece first recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet and released on its 1959 album Time Out. However, it would not become a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts until 1961. Composed by Paul Desmond, the group's saxophonist, it became famous for its distinctive, catchy saxophone melody and use of quintuple time, from which the piece got its name.
While Take Five was not the first jazz composition to use this meter, it was the first of United States mainstream significance, becoming a hit on the radio at a time when rock music was in fashion. It is also known for the solo by drummer Joe Morello.
The song has been recorded by scores of artists, from Swedish singer Monica Zetterlund in 1962 to Colorado jamband String Cheese Incident in 2000, and many others. One notable cover of Take Five was a dub version that was produced by King Tubby and was released in 2002 on the album Declaration of Dub.
Some versions have included lyrics, including a 1961 recording with lyrics written by Dave Brubeck and his wife Iola, that was sung by Carmen McRae.
