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 201-225 of 272 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W403988 10-in. 4/29/1930 Mia cara Paul Specht Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W404218 10-in. 6/10/1930 You brought a new kind of love to me Smith Ballew Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W404470 10-in. 10/10/1930 Satan's holiday Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh W404572 10-in. 12/6/1930 Little did I know Casa Loma Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh W404881 10-in. 3/18/1931 When I take my sugar to tea Fred Rich Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E23993 10-in. 7/13/1927 I haven’t told her, she hasn’t told me Sandy Harold Male vocal solo, with banjo and piano lyricist  
Brunswick E27351 10-in. 4/16/1928 There’s something about a rose Joe Rines Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) lyricist  
Brunswick E28012 10-in. 8/9/1928 I love my old-fashioned man Chick Ciccone Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E29237 10-in. Feb. 1929 Wedding bells (Are breaking up that old gang of mine) Bob Haring Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) lyricist  
Brunswick E29455 10-in. Mar. 1929 Wedding bells (Are breaking up that old gang of mine) Dick Robertson Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E29478 10-in. Mar. 1929 The things that were made for love Skinnay Ennis ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) lyricist  
Brunswick E29970 10-in. May 1929 A high silk hat and a walking cane Frankie Marvin Male vocal solo, with guitar lyricist  
Brunswick E30096 10-in. June 1929 Don’t hang your dreams on a rainbow Arnold Johnson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) lyricist  
Brunswick E30368 10-in. July 1929 Sweetheart’s holiday Nick Lucas Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano lyricist  
Brunswick E30402 10-in. July 1929 Mountains ain’t no place for bad men Kanawha Singers Male vocal quartet and whistling, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Brunswick E30403 10-in. July 1929 A high silk hat and a walking cane Kanawha Singers Male vocal quartet and whistling, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Brunswick E32585 10-in. Apr. 1930 You brought a new kind of love to me Belle Baker Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E32588 10-in. Apr. 1930 You brought a new kind of love to me Ben Bernie Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal lyricist  
Brunswick E35945 10-in. 1/21/1931 They’ll all be there but me Milt Shaw and his Detroiters [Art Kahn Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E36117 10-in. 2/20/1931 When I take my sugar to tea Sunshine Boys Male vocal duet, with trombone and guitar lyricist  
Brunswick E36497 10-in. 3/23/1931 When I take my sugar to tea Casa Loma Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E36626 10-in. 4/15/1931 When I take my sugar to tea Chocolate Dandies [King Oliver Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E36652 10-in. 4/23/1931 (There ought to be a) Moonlight saving time Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E36679 10-in. 5/1/1931 (There ought to be a) Moonlight saving time Dick Robertson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E36835 10-in. 5/29/1931 (There ought to be a) Moonlight saving time Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 201-225 of 272 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kahal, Irving," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

Kahal, Irving. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

"Kahal, Irving." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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