Irving Kahal

Irving Kahal (March 5, 1903, Houtzdale, Pennsylvania – February 7, 1942, New York City) was a popular American song lyricist active in the 1920s and 1930s. He is best remembered for his collaborations with composer Sammy Fain which started in 1926 when Kahal was working in vaudeville sketches written by Gus Edwards. Their collaboration lasted 16 years, until Kahal's death in 1942.

Among many fine songs, the stand-out was "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me" on which Pierre Norman lent a hand, which was sung by Maurice Chevalier in the film The Big Pond (1930) effectively becoming his signature tune, and featured by Frank Sinatra on his magisterial album Songs For Swingin' Lovers.

The Fain/Kahal catalogue also includes "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella" (1928) with Francis Wheeler, "Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine" (1929) with Willie Raskin, "By a Waterfall" (1930), "When I Take My Sugar to Tea" (1931) with Pierre Norman, "I Can Dream, Can't I?" (1938) and "I'll Be Seeing You", which was written in 1938, but became a hit in 1943 especially among the families of servicemen sent overseas.

In 1970, Irving Kahal was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 5, 1903 (Houtzdale), Died February 7, 1942 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, composer, vocalist, translator

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 272 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-53980 10-in. 8/9/1929 Sweetheart's holiday Richard Barry ; Henry Busse Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBVE-54878 10-in. 7/18/1930 Lo que yo siento es pasión José Bohr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-56107 10-in. 8/23/1929 Don't hang your dreams on a rainbow Bernie Cummins ; New York Biltmore Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-56131 10-in. 9/16/1929 That's where you come in Chick Endor Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-57012 10-in. 10/17/1929 Carmen Juan Pulido Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-59672 10-in. 4/4/1930 You brought a new kind of love to me Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-59687 10-in. 4/10/1930 Vous êtes mon nouveau bonheur Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor BVE-59742 10-in. 4/9/1930 Mia cara Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-62203 10-in. 4/17/1930 You brought a new kind of love to me High Hatters ; Leonard W. Joy ; Frank Luther Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-63103 10-in. 7/1/1930 I've got "it" (but it don't do me no good) Helen Kane Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor 65278 10-in. 11/9/1931 Chevalier do Recreio Mesquitinha Male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-67499 10-in. 3/12/1931 When I take my sugar to tea Bert Lown Hotel Biltmore Orchestra ; Biltmore Trio Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio lyricist  
Victor PBS-68421 10-in. 2/2/1933 If you don't want to be sweethearts Meri Bell ; Gus Arnheim Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BRC-69656 10-in. 5/26/1931 (There ought to be a) Moonlight saving time Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor ABRC-69915 10-in. 6/9/1931 (There ought to be a) Moonlight-saving time Sam Johnson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BRC-69972 10-in. 6/23/1931 Hikin' down the highway Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BRC-70133 10-in. 7/29/1931 A little less of moonlight Nathaniel Shilkret ; Paul Small ; Victor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BRC-71286 10-in. 1/28/1932 Put that sun back in the sky Roane's Pennsylvanians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor BRC-72544 10-in. 5/5/1932 When you're gettin' along with your gal Dell Lampe Orchestra ; Rob Roy Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor ESHQ-72885 8-in. 6/13/1932 Having a good time, wish you were here The New Yorkers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-73322 10-in. 8/25/1932 Three's a crowd Gordon Graham ; Wayne King Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-75562 10-in. 3/23/1933 Kiss in the moonlight Lew Sherwood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-77503 10-in. 8/16/1933 Ah! The moon is here! Ramona Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet lyricist  
Victor BS-77611 10-in. 9/6/1933 By a waterfall Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-77617 10-in. 9/6/1933 By a waterfall Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 26-50 of 272 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kahal, Irving," accessed April 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

Kahal, Irving. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

"Kahal, Irving." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675

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