"Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby with Georgie Stoll and his Orchestra in the 1936 film of the same name.

Background

It was recorded in 1936 by Billie Holiday and afterwards performed by Doris Day, Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Clark Terry, Big Joe Turner, Lester Young, Dean Martin, Gene Ammons, Legion of Mary, Guy Mitchell, and Harry James. The July 24, 1936, recording by Bing Crosby and the Georgie Stoll Orchestra topped the charts for ten weeks in 1936 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004. He recorded another version on August 17, accompanied by Louis Armstrong, Frances Langford and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Crosby recorded the song again for his 1954 album Bing: A Musical Autobiography.

Other versions

On July 21, 1936, at Victor's Hollywood Studio, Eddy Duchin and his Orchestra made the first recording of "Pennies from Heaven." It was released on October 14, 1936, on Victor 25431 and rose to number 2 on the Billboard charts. Jimmy Dorsey also recorded it on August 4, released on Decca 951 in October, and made the chart for one week in December. Then Crosby and Dorsey, along with Louis Armstrong and Frances Langford, made another recording for Decca on August 17, released in October on a 12" Shellac pressing only.