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
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)

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Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kahal, Irving," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

Kahal, Irving. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

"Kahal, Irving." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.