The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Time Out

First released1959

Time Out was recorded at Columbia Records' 30th Street Studio in New York between June and August 1959, with producer Irving Towne overseeing the sessions. The album was engineered by Fred Plaut, who utilized the studio's advanced recording equipment to capture the ensemble's intricate arrangements with clarity. The recording marked a significant technical achievement for its time, employing multitrack recording techniques that allowed for precise control over the instrumental balance. Recorded in stereo, the album featured the distinctive compositions of pianist Dave Brubeck and alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, with several tracks recorded in unusual time signatures, most notably "Take Five" in 5/4 time. The sessions produced one of jazz's most commercially successful albums, becoming the first jazz record to sell over one million copies.