Penthouse Serenade
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Will Jason, Val Burton |
| Lyricist | Will Jason, Val Burton |
| Year Written | 1931 |
| About Penthouse Serenade | |
| “Penthouse Serenade” 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. | |
Lyrics
Here in this big city
Many people come and go
But my love, we two are a permanent thing
Like a bird on the wing
For the coming of spring
Just picture a penthouse
Way up in the sky
With hinges on chimneys
For stars to go by
A sweet slice of Heaven
For just you and I
When we’re alone
From all of society
We’ll stay aloof
And live in propriety
There on the roof
To Heaven, we hermits
We will be in truth
When we’re alone
We’ll see life’s mad pattern
As we view Manhattan
Then we can thank our lucky stars
That we’re living as we are
In our little penthouse
We’ll always contrive
To keep love and romance
Forever alive
In view of the Hudson
Just over the drive
When we’re alone
Sunsets in the village
Paintings left unfinished
Twinkling lights in Central Park
Love is waiting for the dark
In our little penthouse
On top of the town
Each evening we’ll stargaze
We’ll never look down
The Heavens are our rooftop
A shimmering crown
When we’re alone
Just you
Just me
We’ll live in harmony
Enjoying each moment
The rest of our lives
When we’re alone
Session / Album Information
1958
Penthouse Serenade was recorded on November 6, 1958 and was released in 1959 on the album Hometown, My Town. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.
This recording was released on:
- 1959: Columbia CL 1301 (Mono) Hometown, My Town
- 1969: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9891 — Love Story: 20 All-Time Great Recordings
- 1971: CBS LP 12″: 66297 — Love Songs (UK)
- 1991: Columbia CD: CSK 4083 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett (Promo)
- 1991: Columbia CD: C4K 46843 — Forty Years – The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 1993: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6641 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
- 2008: Columbia/RPM/Legacy CD: 731397 — The Essential Tony Bennett [Limited Edition 3.0]
- 2011: Disc #15 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874603-JK15) Hometown, My Town