The song of the day for Sunday. August 7, 2022, is “Penthouse Serenade.”

About This Song

“Penthouse Serenade” was written in 1931 by Will Jason and Val Burton. It’s one of the classic Depression-era songs with the yearning for the glamorous Manhattan apartment by the poor yet romantic couple. The first known use of “Penthouse Serenade” was for the 1933 animated short Betty Boop’s Penthouse, where it was sung by Mae Questel. On a more serious note, “Penthouse Serenade” has had exceptional recordings: Nat King Cole recorded it in 1952 as a piano solo for an album of the same name, and Tony Bennett’s recording for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town is really excellent, with a brilliant arrangement by Ralph Burns.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Penthouse Serenade” on November 6, 1958. and it was released in 1959 on the album Hometown, My Town. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.

“Penthouse Serenade,” as well as Hometown, My Town is available on Apple Music.

The song of the day for Monday, August 23, 2021, is “Penthouse Serenade.”

About This Song

“Penthouse Serenade” was written in 1931 by Will Jason and Val Burton. It’s one of the classic Depression-era songs with the yearning for the glamorous Manhattan apartment by the poor, yet romantic, couple. The first known use of “Penthouse Serenade” was for the 1933 animated short Betty Boop’s Penthouse, where it was sung by Mae Questel. On a more serious note, “Penthouse Serenade” has had exceptional recordings: Nat King Cole recorded it in 1952 as a piano solo for an album of the same name, and Tony Bennett’s recording for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town is really wonderful with a brilliant arrangement by Ralph Burns.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Penthouse Serenade” in 1959 for his album Hometown, My Town, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Burns.

“Penthouse Serenade,” as well as Hometown, My Town is available on Apple Music.

The song of the day for Thursday, October 29, 2020, is “Penthouse Serenade.”

About This Song

“Penthouse Serenade” was written by Will Jason and Val Burton in 1931. It’s one of the classic Depression-era songs with the yearning for the glamorous Manhattan apartment by the poor, yet romantic, couple. The first known use of “Penthouse Serenade” was for the 1933 animated short Betty Boop’s Penthouse, where it was sung by Mae Questel. On a more serious note, “Penthouse Serenade” has had exceptional recordings: Nat King Cole recorded it in 1952 as a piano solo for an album of the same name and Tony Bennett’s recording for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Penthouse Serenade” in 1959 for his album Hometown, My Town. The very fine arrangement was written by Ralph Burns.

“Penthouse Serenade,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from Apple Music.

The song of the day for Friday, October 4, 2019, is “Penthouse Serenade.”

About This Song

“Penthouse Serenade” was written in 1931 by Will Jason and Val Burton. It’s one the classic Depression-era songs with the yearning for the glamorous Manhattan apartment by the poor, yet romantic, couple. The first known use of “Penthouse Serenade” was for the 1933 animated short Betty Boop’s Penthouse, where it was sung by Mae Questel. On a more serious note, “Penthouse Serenade” has had exceptional recordings including Nat King Cole’s recording in 1952 as a piano solo for an album of the same name.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Penthouse Serenade” in 1958 for his album Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. The very talented Ralph Burns arranged and conducted the album.

“Penthouse Serenade,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 10, 2018 is “Penthouse Serenade.”

About This Song

“Penthouse Serenade” was written in 1931 by Will Jason and Val Burton. The song is one the classic Depression-era songs, with the yearning for the glamorous Manhattan apartment by the poor, yet romantic, couple. The first known use of “Penthouse Serenade” was for the 1933 animated short Betty Boop’s Penthouse, where it was sung by Mae Questel. On a more serious note, “Penthouse Serenade” has had exceptional recordings: Nat King Cole recorded it in 1952 as a piano solo for an album of the same name and Tony Bennett’s recording for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town is really wonderful with a brilliant arrangement by Ralph Burns.

About This Version

Today, the blog got a comment from a reader who expressed his admiration for this particular recording and the wonderful pairing of Tony Bennett and Ralph Burns, who did the arrangements for the 1959 Hometown, My Town, including today’s song “Penthouse Serenade.” Regular readers may already know of my love for this short album–in just six songs, Bennett and Burns give us a rich, nuanced, and almost biographical experience of starting life in Manhattan, full of talent, dreams, joy and heartbreak.

“Penthouse Serenade,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.