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 76-100 of 272 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-017457 10-in. 12/3/1937 I can dream, can't I? Al Bowlly Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-017464 10-in. 12/6/1937 (I can dream) Can't I? Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-021433 10-in. 3/11/1938 Sissy Frank Dailey ; Ann Seton ; Stop and Go Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-036911 10-in. 5/5/1939 Roller skating on a rainbow Blue Barron ; Three Blue Notes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio songwriter  
Victor BS-046044 10-in. 12/28/1939 Love song of Renaldo The Ambassadors ; Californians ; Irving Kahal ; Abe Lyman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble lyricist, vocalist  
Victor BS-046822 10-in. 1/31/1940 Love song of Renaldo Clyde Burke ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble lyricist  
Victor BS-047030 10-in. 2/8/1940 I'll be seeing you Mitchell Ayres ; Fashions-in-Music ; Mary Ann Mercer Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-047048 10-in. 2/12/1940 I'll be seeing you Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor BS-047708 10-in. 2/26/1940 I'll be seeing you Frank Sinatra ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBS-055264 10-in. 1/27/1941 Corn silk Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Eddie Stone Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-056170 10-in. 9/24/1940 Such stuff as dreams are made of Jack Kilty ; Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-056307 10-in. 9/23/1940 Such stuff as dreams are made of Shep Fields ; Larry Neill ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor D7VB-0594 10-in. 7/7/1947 Pappy's little jug Phil Harris ; Phil Harris Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D7VB-0981 10-in. 6/18/1947 The night is young and you're so beautiful Russ Case ; Russ Case Orchestra Instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Columbia W140903 10-in. 9/4/1925 Valeska Willie Howard Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia W141705 10-in. 2/19/1926 If you can't hold the man you love Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist  
Columbia W141805 10-in. 3/16/1926 I can't keep you out of my dreams Art Gillham Male vocal solo, with tuba and piano lyricist  
Columbia 142313 10-in. 6/17/1926 Sevilla Broadway Bellhops ; Carlos Perez Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W142542 10-in. 8/19/1926 If you can't hold the man you love Virgina Childs Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar lyricist  
Columbia W142574 10-in. 8/26/1926 I can't keep you out of my dreams Honey Duke and his Uke Male vocal solo, with ukulele lyricist  
Columbia 142880 10-in. 10/27/1926 Rags Dolly Kay ; Phil Phillips Female vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Columbia W142904 10-in. 11/3/1926 Rags Art Gillham Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Columbia W143045 10-in. 11/3/1926 If you can't hold the man you love Daisy Douglas Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist  
Columbia 143228 10-in. 12/28/1926 If my baby cooks (As good as she looks) Art Barnett ; Tommy Christian Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W143256 10-in. 1/7/1927 If you can't tell the world she's a good little girl, just say nothing at all Al Lentz Orchestra ; Al Lentz Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 76-100 of 272 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kahal, Irving," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

Kahal, Irving. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/116675

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