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 176-200 of 272 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W351015 10-in. 5/9/1931 (There ought to be a) Moonlight saving time Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W351059 10-in. 7/3/1931 Hikin' down the highway Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh 74252 10-in. 8/11/1926 If you can't hold the man you love Alberta Hunter Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
OKeh W80202 10-in. 11/8/1926 If my baby cooks (As good as she looks) The Happiness Boys ; Dave Kaplan Male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
OKeh W80220 10-in. 11/19/1926 Rags Alma Rotter Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio songwriter  
OKeh W81028 10-in. 6/17/1927 I ain't that kind of a baby Irwin Abrams Hotel Manger Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W81088 10-in. 5/17/1927 I haven't told her—she hasn't told me Harry Raderman's Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W81152 10-in. 7/8/1927 I ain't that kind of a baby Irwin Abrams Hotel Manger Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal duet lyricist  
OKeh W81177 10-in. 8/2/1927 Roam on, my little gypsy sweetheart Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W81191 10-in. 8/5/1927 I ain't that kind of a baby Beth Challis Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
OKeh W81208 10-in. 8/10/1927 Nothin' does-does like it used to do-do-do The Goofus Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with female vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh W81219 10-in. 8/12/1927 I left my sugar standing in the rain (And she melted away) Goofus Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with female vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W81260 10-in. 8/22/1927 It was only a sun shower Markel's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W81497 10-in. 9/30/1927 Summertime sweethearts Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W81793 10-in. 11/7/1927 The beggar Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet lyricist  
OKeh W81827 10-in. 11/16/1927 For my baby Sonia Meroff Female vocal solo, with saxophone and piano lyricist  
OKeh W81902 10-in. 12/7/1927 It was only a sun shower Seger Ellis ; Justin Ring Salon Orchestra Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh W81924 10-in. 12/7/1927 For my baby Ed Kirkeby Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet lyricist  
OKeh W81932 10-in. 12/12/1927 Let a smile be your umbrella (On a rainy day) Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W81934 10-in. 12/12/1927 The beggar Noel Taylor Male vocal solo, with violin, banjo, and guitar lyricist  
OKeh W81958 10-in. 12/22/1927 What a wonderful wedding that will be Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W401731 10-in. 3/21/1929 Wedding bells (Are breaking up that old gang of mine) Jazz Pilots ; Harry Reser Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W401803 10-in. 4/10/1929 (You can't take away) The things that were made for love Smith Ballew Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W403023 10-in. 10/3/1929 Sweetheart's holiday Charles W. Hamp Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
OKeh W403863 10-in. 3/19/1930 You brought a new kind of love to me Ed Kirkeby Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 176-200 of 272 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kahal, Irving," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

Kahal, Irving. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

"Kahal, Irving." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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