Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out

Analogue Productions presents the definitive Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet on Hybrid Multichannel SACD

SACD booklet includes rare photos from the Columbia Studios recording session, as well as an additional liner written by pianist Brubeck himself

Remastered by Bernie Grundman; authored for SACD by Gus Skinas on the SONOMA system

Virtually all serious and even casual music lovers ought to be familiar with, or at least are likely to have heard The Dave Brubeck Quartet, even without realizing it — for the quartet's best-known hit "Take Five" has graced the soundtracks of multiple films, including "Mighty Aphrodite," "Pleasantville" and "Constantine."

The piece is famous for its distinctive, catchy saxophone melody, as well as its use of unusual 5/4 time — so distinctive, it's a rare jazz track that became a pop hit.

Including the monster hit "Take Five," the Brubeck Quartet's Time Out is a jazz and audiophile classic. Every collection needs a copy. And now, Analogue Productions brings you the definitive copy, on Hybrid Multichannel SACD, as well as on 200-gram vinyl pressed at Quality Record Pressings (Acoustic Sounds' own industry-lauded LP manufacturer).

Why definitive? The Quartet's signature sound paired with Multichannel SACD technology goes together beautifully. Hybrid SACDs are designed to play in both CD and SACD players, as well as all SACD-compatible DVD players.  And the accompanying booklet is definitive in its own right, giving listeners a glimpse inside the creative process via a liner written by Dave Brubeck and a note from "Take Five," composer and the quartet's alto saxophonist, Paul Desmond. 

Time Out's booklet also features fantastic photos shot during the recording session at Columbia's famous 30th Street Studios. Sony Music supplied the images for use in our SACD reissue, and gave us persmission to use them in our LP reissue as well.

Time Out was an experiment by the Quartet in odd rhythms, and some of the other melodies have had a surprising and diverse history. "Three To Get Ready" was a hit in France as "Jazz et Java" sung by Claude Nougaro, who also had a hit with "A Bout de Scouffle" (Brubeck's "Blue Rondo A La Turk"). Also, "Kathy's Waltz" (named after Brubeck's daughter but spelled with a "K" instead of "C" as is his daughter's name) has been recorded and performed by symphony orchestras.

The record label's sales executives didn't want a painting on the cover when Time Out debuted in 1959 on Columbia Records, Brubeck told an interviewer.  An entire album of originals? That wouldn't work either, he was told. Some standards and some show tunes were needed in the mix. Fortunately, Brubeck ignored the conventional wisdom and Time Out became the original classic we know it as today. Brubeck became proof that creative jazz and popular success can go together.

The album was intended as an experiment using musical styles Brubeck discovered abroad while on a United States Department of State-sponsored tour of Eurasia. In Turkey, he observed a group of street musicians performing a traditional Turkish folk song that was played in 9/8 time, a rare meter for Western music.

Paul Desmond wrote "Take Five," at Brubeck's urging to try and write a song in quintuple (5/4) time. 

"I told Paul to put a melody over (drummer) Joe Morello's beat," Brubeck explained. As a jazz pianist, Brubeck became a household name in jazz in part due to Time Out's success. Demond's cool-toned alto and quick wit fit in well with Brubeck's often heavy chording and experimental playing. Morello and bassist Gene Wright completed the group. The Quartet traveled and performed constantly around the world until breaking up in 1967 to pursue other musical ventures.

Time Out peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard pop albums chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. "Take Five" became a mainstream hit, reaching No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 5 on Billboard's Easy Listening survey, the precursor to today's Adult Contemporary charts. The song was included in countless movies and television soundtracks and still receives significant radio play.

Please note: For the Multichannel program of this SACD, we used the same hi-res file as was used for the previous Sony SACD release of this title. The Multichannel program was not remixed or remastered. Please understand that our focus and interest is on making the best sounding two-channel layer possible. We have remastered the stereo program from the original analog tapes. Because the disc allows space to include a multichannel program and because one already existed, we decided to include it as a bonus.

Musicians:
Dave Brubeck, piano
Paul Desmond, alto saxophone
Joe Morello, drums
Gene Wright, bass

 

1. Blue Rondo A La Turk

2. Strange Meadow Lark

3. Take Five

4. Three To Get Ready

5. Kathy's Waltz

6. Everybody's Jumpin'

7. Pick Up Sticks

Customer Reviews (4.27 Stars) 15 person(s) rated this product.

The version to end all previous versions posted on 08/12/2022 5 Stars Reviewer: Bob Djukic This is easily, by far, the finest version of the album I have heard in the past 50 years: spacious, dimensional, crystal clear, with fantastic resolution, absolutely superb dynamics and fine, natural channel balancing (it is remarkable, bordering on unbelievable, that this beauty was recorded 63 years ago, during the infancy of the stereo/multi-track technology) . Yes, the drums are somewhat louder and more up front in the mix than on the original Columbia release, but it only adds more oomph and acoustic bite to the recording; it does not in any way detract from the solo instruments. One minor caveat: nothing on the booklet or insert specifically identifies the release as multichannel (either 4.0 or 5.1). The buyer will have to unseal the box in order to see a Multi-CH logo on the disc itself.

Very Sharp and Detailed posted on 08/02/2022 5 Stars Reviewer: Brian VanPelt This sounds pretty much like the record versions, I think. I say this because on both record versions (33 1/3 , 45) I have terrible distortion all throughout the piano passages in song 2, rendering those parts unlistenable. Everything else is almost perfect on the vinyl. Based on a little research and this SACD, I know that the problem is my stylus is not hi end enough to handle those piano passages. Thus, the SACD is indespensible to me. The SACD sounds just like the record, sans distortion and surface noise. Very clear with a lot of air around instruments. Piano on the right, drums on the left and brass in the middle. The piano is just one touch under vibrant, but everything else is vivid and sharp, particularly the drums - important in Take Five. There's not much else to say, as this one is pretty much perfect. Note: I just reviewed the stereo, and not the multichannel.

Drums were amplified, too much posted on 08/15/2016 1 Stars In their extreme quest for clarity, and making all instruments easily heard, the seem to have used normalization as is customary now days. The result? The drums (especially the cymbals) are so loud that its hard to listen to the Piano. Sorry, but no matter how good the drummer is (and he is), Mr. Brubeck should have been in front like in past issues. Its not as bad as those compressed cds where the dynamic range is lost, but it still makes this sacd useless to me and I regret the purchase.

Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out Multi Channel Hybrid SACD posted on 09/06/2014 5 Stars Reviewer: Mark Powers I have always wanted this disc and had to get when I saw was available in multichannel. I have no history with jazz as I am a rock and blues guy. The music on this CD is absolutely spectacular, the simplicity and the complexity is outstanding, I was really digging it. I listened via a McIntosh system, in external mode, coaxial, analog output, 5 speakers and sub. This reissue is suburb, it is not the in your face all speakers blaring, Rock CD. Very subtle rears, but as I have digital read outs on my amplifier, I can tell they are working and I can also hear just a small amount of ambiance. On the second track the clarity was so great I could see the brushes of Morello in my mind. On many tracks I could hear the creaking of the neck on the standup bass. Sax and piano, note by note I was intrenched. Great job AP guys, but even better thanks goes to the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Sorry it took me so long.

What A Treat! posted on 02/18/2013 5 Stars I've never owned this title in any format. I took a chance based on reviews and the nice quality of AP products in prior purchases. The music is phenomenal!

Great Music, A Little Bright posted on 01/12/2013 4 Stars Reviewer: Andy S. Compared to my original Columbia 6-eyes pressing, this SACD is a little bit bright; however, the sound is very dynamic and the music is great. So I'll give it 4 stars. It would have been 5 if not for that slightly exaggerated EQ.

By far the best ever release. posted on 11/20/2012 5 Stars Reviewer: Dan All other releases of this title are worthless now, this is the only one you want.

Amazing sound from 1959 posted on 08/29/2012 5 Stars I had the previous 28 bit remastered version of this. The SACD sounds amazing - significantly more "presence" and :sweetness". Sounds incredible especially since it is now over 50 years old....

Excellent sound, QC not quite there posted on 08/17/2012 4 Stars I had to return my first copy because one disc was pressed off center enough to make the piano sound out of tune, and neither disc was particularly flat. The replacement was good however, though I would not call it dead quiet. The sound quality is outstanding though. If you love this classic album, this is one of the best ways to experience it. As good as my original 6-eye copies are (mono and stereo), to my ear, this 45 rpm reissue trumps them in the areas that 45 rpm does so well: weight, natural balance, presence and 3D imaging. One star off for QC issues.

Fantastic Album !! posted on 07/30/2012 5 Stars Reviewer: Graeme Dare I say it, but this is this first time I have heard "Time Out" in it's entirety. Whislt familiar with "Take Five" I have never heard the "Time Out" album as a whole. But what an introduction. This AP SACD remaster is remarkable. For a 53 year old recording I cannot believe the depth, clarity and richness I am hearing. Amazing. Thank you Chad and all the Analogue Productions team. Keep up the fantastic work. I wait now with baited breathe for "The Doors" SACD's to come.

Stereo great, multichannel useless... posted on 07/26/2012 2 Stars Reviewer: Tim Casey ...but I'm giving you guys 2 stars for at least saying in bold at the bottom of the description that you used the old Sony multichannel mix. However, I hadn't noticed that caveat before I bought it. I wanted it because it was multichannel. I should have read closer. All of the instruments are coming out of the center channel, except for the drums, which are spread out in the front left and right speakers. I didn't notice anything out of the rear speakers at all. And there are absolutely no low frequencies in this mix - a problem that the old Sony SACDs had with this title and "Kind of Blue" as well. The upright bass sounds like a kid's plastic toy. The stereo sounds rich, but this multi mix - why on earth did you give this anemic mix new life? I was hoping for better from you guys (your other stuff is great). I wish I could return it, but it's already opened.

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