June Carter and Luther Perkins - I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (different lyrics), 1967 Johnny Cash Show PBS Special
"I'll Be All Smiles Tonight" is probably one of the most beautiful songs that were ever written in music history. Originally a popular music tune, it became a standard with country musicians in the 20th century.
Written by T.B. Ranson in 1879, the song became a favorite tune in a time when heartfelt songs were extremely popular. Families would gather around a piano and sing those tunes, among them "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight." It was first published by T.B. Harms & Company in New York City that year but soon several other companies published it, too.
By the 1920s, rural musicians had taken up the song on guitar, fiddle, and banjo. The first to record it were Luther B. Clark and the Blue Ridge Highballers on March 24, 1926, in New York City for Columbia, followed by the the duo of Lester McFarland and Robert A. Gardner. Several other old-time acts cut the song during the late 1920s and early 1930s, a testimony to its popularity among rural folk singers. The Carter Family recorded it on May 8, 1934, in Camden, New Jersey, for Bluebird with Maybelle Carter on guitar and vocals, Sara Carter on vocals and guitar, and A.P. Carter on vocals. Many later versions credited the song solely to A.P. Carter, whose usual practice was to take both old popular and folk songs and claimed copyright his own. One of the few later versions that credited Ranson (as T.B. Bransom) was Eddie Shuler's recording on Goldband Records. Many artists also took songwriting credit for themselves when releasing their versions - like Bill Clifton or Kitty Wells.
It was probably through the Carters' version, which was released both on Bluebird and Montgomery Ward chain store's own label, that the song gained popularity especially in the country music field and in the following years, many artists recorded their own version of "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight". Those included Hylo Brown, Mac Wiseman, the Louvin Brothers, Kitty Wells, Johnny Cash, Kenny Baker, and many others. In the 1950s, it was also collected by a couple of folk music researchers in their publications.
Recordings
The following list contains historical recordings which I chose to include here. The list is incomplete - additions are highly appreciated.
• Luther B. Clarke, I'll Be All Smiles To-Night Love (Columbia 15069-D), rec. March 24, 1926, rel. May 1926
• Lester McFarland & Robert A. Gardner, I'll Be All Smiles To-Night (Brunswick 164), rel. Dec. 1927
• Bradley Kincaid, I Will Be All Smiles Tonight (Gennett 7053, Champion 15876 as "Dan Hughey", Supertone 9566), rec. Oct. 4, 1929, rel. Jan. 1930
• Allen Brothers, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Victor V-40210), rel. March 7, 1930
• Linda Parker with the Cumberland Ridge Runners, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Conqueror 8164), rec. April 11, 1933, rel. Dec. 1933
• Carter Family, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Bluebird B-5529, Montgomery Ward M-4497, RCA Victor Bluebird Series B-5529 [CAN]), rec. May 8, 1934, rel. July 5, 1934, (CAN 1946-1949)
• Bill Carlisle, I'll Be All Smiles, Love (Bluebird B-6938), rel. May 5, 1937
• Eddie Shuler's All Star Reveliers, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Goldband G-1023), rel. 1952
• Louvin Brothers, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Capitol EAP 1-769 [US/UK/NZ]), rel. 1956 (NZ July 1957)
• Randy Atcher, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight, Love (MGM K12347), rel. 1956
• Bill Clifton & the Dixie Mountain Boys, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Starday 45-548, SEP 195), rel. 1961
• Kitty Wells, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Decca 7-38219), rel. 1961
• Johnny Cash, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Columbia unreleased), rec. 1962
• Trails Blazers, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (instr.) (Nashville 5169), rel. 1964
• Lulu Belle & Scotty, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Starday 746), rel. Dec. 1965
• Maisie McDaniel & the Clubmen, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Fontana TE 17447 [UK]), rel. 1965
• Mac Wiseman, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Dot DLP 25,731 "Bluegrass"), 1966
• Jim Crabtree, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Dearborn D 557), rel. 1967
• John Kelly & the Capitols, I'll Be All Smiles (Dolphin DOS.30 [Ireland]), rel. 1969
• Ginger Broadback & Her Hot Lips, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight No.2 (Outhouse 10206), rel. 1971
• Danny Ross, I'll Be All Smiles Tonite (Stoneway 1057, GNP Crescendo GNPK-4801 [Australia]), rel. 1971
• The Mom and Dads, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (MCA 7019 "Reminiscing with the Mon and Dads" [CAN]), rel. 1972
• Roy Clark, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Dot DOS-26018 "Roy Clark's Family Album"), rel. Nov. 1973
• Troy Hess and Little Angela Perry, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Show Land SL 301973), rel. 1973
• Brother Oswald, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Rounder 0013 "Brother Oswald"), rel. 1973
• Deacon Brumfield, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Gusto SLP-340 "That Dobro Sound's Goin' Round"), rel. 1975
• Emma Smith, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Old Homestead OHS-90157 "Hazard"), rel. 1982
• Shot Jackson, Chubby Howard, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (Wasp WR-128)
• Olabelle, Alex and Deacon & the New River Boys, I'll Be All Smiles Tonight (New River 1032, New River EP 100)
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