Review: Penthouse Serenade UHQ-CD Version

Nat King Cole - Penthouse Serenade [Mono] [Duophonic] - The Sound of Tape

Just one year after Nat King Cole disbanded his trio and turned his attention to vocal pop music, he went into the studio to record Penthouse Serenade – a quiet, thoughtful instrumental album of standards that the legendary singer recorded with John Collins (guitar), Charlie Harris (bass) and Bunny Shawker (drums), with Jack Costanzo providing percussion support. Produced by Lee Gillette, the album was originally released in September 1952 as a 10-inch LP on Capitol Records. The album confirmed that Nat King Cole, despite his commercial success in the vocal genre, was still an exceptionally talented pianist. In 1955, as the 12-inch LP increasingly dominated the market, Cole recorded four more tracks with Collins, Harris and drummer Lee Young (Lester Young's brother) to release a reissue of Penthouse Serenade, now with 12 tracks – Cole's first full-length LP.

In response to popular demand, AudioNautes Recordings is now presenting the sonically impressive reissue of the 1955 Capitol Records pressing as a UHQCD, which includes both the original mono recordings and the later Duophonic stereo versions. Enjoy “Nat King Cole At The Piano: Penthouse Serenade” in sound quality never heard before – and hurry! This limited edition will sell out fast!

Album: Nat King Cole - Penthouse Serenade
Label: AudioNautes Recordings - AN-2604-UHQ
Edition: 70th Anniversary UHQCD Gold Series Edition
Format: CD, UHQ-CD, Silver Alloy, Mono & Duophonic, Limited, Numbered, Gold Series Edition, Import
Country: Italy
Released: May 2026
Genre: Jazz
Style: Ballad

Tracklist:

In Mono

1.    Penthouse Serenade (When We’re Alone)
2.    Somebody Loves Me
3.    Laura
4.    Once In A Blue Moon (Based On Rubinstein's Melody In F)
5.    Don’t Blame Me
6.    Little Girl
7.    Polka Dots And Moonbeams
8.    Down By The Old Mill Stream
9.    If I Should Lose You
10.    Rose Room
11.    I Surrender Dear
12.    It Could Happen To You

In Duophonic

13.    Penthouse Serenade (When We’re Alone)
14.    Somebody Loves Me
15.    Laura
16.    Once In A Blue Moon (Based On Rubinstein's Melody In F)
17.    Don’t Blame Me
18.    Little Girl
19.    Polka Dots And Moonbeams
20.    Down By The Old Mill Stream
21.    If I Should Lose You
22.    Rose Room
23.    I Surrender Dear
24.    It Could Happen To You

Musicians: 

Nat King Cole - piano, vocals
John Collins - guitar
Charlie Harris - bass
Bunny Shawker, Lee Young - drums
Jack Costanzo - percussion

UHQCD Features:

• From Original Master Tape
• Superior Crystal Sound
• Numbered Limited Edition
• Made in Japan
• Ultimate High-Quality CD
• XRCD-Like Luxury Digipak
• Playable On Conventional CD players
• Produced in Italy (Import)

About Ultimate High Quality Compact Disc

UHQ-CD stands for Ultimate High Quality Compact Disc and is a joint development of the Japanese CD replication company Memory-Tech and the Audio Quality CD Company from Hong Kong. Unlike conventional CDs, UHQCDs are not pressed from polycarbonate, but cast from a photopolymer and cured with UV light. Another layer of high-purity polycarbonate is applied to the softer photopolymer for scratch protection. The combination results in significantly reduced reflection of laser light inside the CD and an unmatched precise edge transition between pits and lands of the CD. UHQCDs are 100% compatible with standard CD players. Musically, the result is a sound image strongly reminiscent of analog master tapes.

About Audionautes Recordings: 

The name Audionautes Recordings will almost certainly be familiar to trade show enthusiasts from the HIGH END in Munich: For many years, Fabio Camorani’s company (as well as Camorani’s second technology company AudioNemesis, which he runs together with Giuseppe Intorrella) has been one of the regulars at Europe’s leading hi-fi show. However, AudioNautes has long since become synonymous not only with first-class amplifiers, turntables and loudspeakers with insider tip status, but also, with its subsidiary AudioNautes Recordings (ANR), with selected records of the highest quality.

UHQ-CD Gold Series Edition Published By AudioNautes Recordings · Distributed By OpenReelToReel Hub · www.thesoundoftape.com

The Sound of Tape - All image and audio content is used by permission of the copyright holders or their agents, and/or according to fair dealing as per the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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