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 1-25 of 272 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-37528 10-in. 1/10/1927 If you can't hold the man you love (Don't cry when he's gone) Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Evelyn Preer Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor BVE-38723 10-in. 5/4/1927 I haven't told her, she hasn't told me (But we know it just the same) Franklyn Baur ; Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-39091 10-in. 7/7/1927 I ain't that kind of baby Ben Pollack Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-39143 10-in. 9/1/1927 It was only a sunshower Charlie Farrell ; Jim Miller Male vocal duet, with lute, guitar, and piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-39168 10-in. 9/8/1927 Roam on my little Gypsy sweetheart The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-39271 10-in. 6/20/1927 Mississippi mud Rhythm Boys Male vocal trio, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-39381 10-in. 11/1/1927 For my baby Jack Smith Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-39582 10-in. 8/24/1927 Roam on, my little Gypsy sweetheart Ted Weems Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-39876 10-in. 10/5/1927 It was only a sun shower Carroll C. Tate Male vocal solo, with piano (self-accompaniment) lyricist  
Victor BVE-40000 10-in. 9/8/1927 It was only a sun shower Ted Weems Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-40947 10-in. 11/25/1927 That's how I know I love you Nan Blackstone Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet lyricist  
Victor BVE-41050 10-in. 11/18/1927 Baltimore Four Aristocrats Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor BVE-41141 10-in. 12/5/1927 Baltimore Four Aristocrats Male vocal quartet, with instrumental quartet lyricist  
Victor BVE-41633 10-in. 1/20/1928 Let a smile be your umbrella (On a rainy rainy day) Dewey Bergman ; Webster Hall Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBVE-42002 10-in. 2/14/1928 There's something about a rose (That reminds me of you) Eddie Harkness Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-42420 10-in. 2/8/1928 Let a smile be your umbrella (On a rainy day) Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-42428 10-in. 2/9/1928 The beggar Harold Lambert ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-49989 10-in. 2/23/1929 Wedding bells (Are breaking up that old gang of mine) Gene Austin ; Dick Robertson ; Ed Smalle Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-50520 10-in. 2/24/1929 Wedding bells (Are breaking up that old gang of mine) Art Kassel ; "Kassels-in-the-Air" Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus and talk lyricist  
Victor BVE-50932 10-in. 3/12/1929 Wedding bells (Are breaking up that old gang of mine) Elliott Shaw ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-51600 10-in. 4/2/1929 The things that were made for love Aileen Stanley Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-51611 10-in. 4/5/1929 If I give up the saxophone (Will you come back to me?) Eddie Cantor Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-53093 10-in. 5/11/1931 (There ought to be a) Moonlight saving time High Hatters ; Leonard W. Joy ; Frank Luther Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-53439 10-in. 5/24/1929 A high silk hat and a walking cane Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with guitar and organ lyricist  
Victor BVE-53440 10-in. 5/24/1929 Mountains ain't no place for bad men Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with guitar and organ lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 272 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kahal, Irving," accessed October 3, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

Kahal, Irving. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 3, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

"Kahal, Irving." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 3 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675

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