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 101-125 of 272 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 144085 10-in. 5/4/1927 I haven't told her, she hasn't told me (But we know it just the same) Dolly Kay ; Phil Phillips Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia W144303 10-in. 6/8/1927 I ain't that kind of a baby Paul Ash Orchestra ; Paul Small Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W144321 10-in. 6/13/1927 I haven't told her, she hasn't told me Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet lyricist  
Columbia W144390 10-in. 6/22/1927 I ain't that kind of a baby Kitty O'Connor Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 144391 10-in. 6/23/1927 I ain't that kind of a baby Harry Lambert ; The Westerners Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 144421 10-in. 7/1/1927 I ain't that kind of a baby Dolly Kay ; Phil Phillips Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 144471 10-in. 7/20/1927 Roam on my little gypsy sweetheart Sid Garry Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 144472 10-in. 7/20/1927 Roam on, my little gypsy sweetheart University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W144498 10-in. 7/25/1927 Roam on, my little gypsy sweetheart Irving Kaufman ; The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 144544 10-in. 8/17/1927 Nothin' does-does like it used to do-do-do Lou Gold Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia 144555 10-in. 8/23/1927 It was only a sun shower Sid Garry Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 144570 10-in. 8/25/1927 It was only a sun shower Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 144575 10-in. 8/26/1927 Nothin' does-does like it used to do-do-do Irving Kaufman Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia W144578 10-in. 8/26/1927 Roam on, my little gypsy sweetheart Goodrich Silvertown Quartet Male vocal quartet, with piano lyricist  
Columbia W144692 10-in. 9/20/1927 Nothin' does-does like it used to do-do-do California Ramblers ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W144693 10-in. 9/20/1927 It was only a sun shower California Ramblers ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W144783 10-in. 9/22/1927 I left my sugar standing in the rain Charles Kaley Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 144878 10-in. 10/17/1927 The beggar University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 144884 10-in. 10/19/1927 I left my sugar standing in the rain (And she melted away) Brown-Morris Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W144888 10-in. 10/19/1927 Summertime sweethearts Lewis James ; Elliott Shaw Male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 144892 10-in. 10/21/1927 The beggar Harold Rodman Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia W144933 10-in. 10/30/1927 The beggar Frank Harris ; Mal Hallett Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W145224 10-in. 11/21/1927 For my baby Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio lyricist  
Columbia 145239 10-in. 11/28/1927 For my baby Broadway Bellhops Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 145240 10-in. 11/28/1927 Summertime sweethearts Broadway Bellhops Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 101-125 of 272 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kahal, Irving," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

Kahal, Irving. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

"Kahal, Irving." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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