"Beautiful Brown Eyes" is a country song written by Alton Delmore, originally inspired by his oldest daughter. One of the best known versions of the song was originally arranged by Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & Alton Delmore of

The Delmore Brothers Alton Delmore (December 25, 1908 – June 9, 1964) and Rabon Delmore (December 3, 1916 – December 4, 1952), billed as The Delmore Brothers, were country music pioneer singer-songwriters and musicians who were stars of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1 ...

in 1951. An award was presented to Alton Delmore for "Beautiful Brown Eyes" in 1951.

Background

The lyrics are sung from the perspective of a woman unlucky in love, divorced, and remarried, who will "never love blue eyes again".

Recordings

The following recordings are credited to Smith and Delmore only: *Rosemary Clooney 1951 - reached number 11 on '' Billboard'' Pop charts in 1951 ( Rosemary Clooney discography), reissued on the album, '' Rosemary Clooney Sings Country Hits from the Heart''. *

Ethel Smith (organist) Ethel Smith (born Ethel Goldsmith; November 22, 1902 – May 10, 1996) was an American organist who played primarily in a pop or Latin style on the Hammond organ. She had a long recording career and appeared in many films. Early life and caree ...

1951 *"Beautiful Brown Eyes",

Jimmy Wakely Jimmy Wakely (February 16, 1914 – September 23, 1982) was an American actor, songwriter, country music vocalist, and one of the last singing cowboys. During the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, he released records, appeared in several B-Western movies ...

and the Les Baxter Chorus - in 1951. This recording peaked at number 5 on the Best Selling Retail Folk Records chart. *"Beautiful Brown Eyes" (Alton Delmore, Arthur Smith ) from '' Hum & Strum Along with Chet Atkins'' * Dickson Hall And The Country All-Stars * Evelyn Knight With The

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

Singers 1951 *

Lisa Kirk Lisa Kirk (born Elsie Kirk, February 25, 1925 – November 11, 1990) was an American actress and singer noted for her comic talents and rich contralto (her voice was called a husky alto). Career Born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, she was raise ...

1951 * Mimi Martel 1952 *The Belvedere Chorale 1959 *

Kitty Wells Ellen Muriel Deason (August 30, 1919 – July 16, 2012), known professionally as Kitty Wells, was an American pioneering female country music singer. She broke down a barrier to women in country music with her 1952 hit recording " It Wasn't God ...

1960 *

The Manhattans The Manhattans are an American popular R&B vocal group. Their work " Kiss and Say Goodbye", recorded in 1976, and 1980's " Shining Star", both sold millions of copies. The Manhattans have recorded 45 hits on the ''Billboard'' R&B Chart, includ ...

Golden World Records Golden World Records was a record label owned by Eddie Wingate and Joanne Bratton (née Jackson, former wife of boxing champion Johnny Bratton). The recording studio was located in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The studio's national hits inclu ...

1964 *

Grady Martin Thomas Grady Martin (January 17, 1929 – December 3, 2001) was an American session guitarist in country music and rockabilly. A member of The Nashville A-Team, he played guitar on hits such as Marty Robbins' " El Paso", Loretta Lynn's " Co ...

And The Slew Foot Five 1965 *

Gene Vincent Vincent Eugene Craddock (February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971), known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rockabilly and rock and roll. His 1956 top ten hit with his backing band the Blue Caps, " Be-Bop-a-Lula ...

1981 The following credit Smith, Delmore and also Jerry Capehart (1928-1998) who would have only been 23 when the original Smith-Delmore version was published. *

The Brothers Four The Brothers Four is an American folk singing group, founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington, and known for their 1960 hit song "Greenfields." History Bob Flick, John Paine, Mike Kirkland, and Dick Foley met at the University of Washington, wher ...

(A. Smith, A. Delmore, J. Capehart) 1960 *Judy, Johnny and Billy 1960 - an otherwise unknown trio for whom this was the only single *

King Curtis Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery; February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), known professionally as King Curtis, was an American saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock and roll. A bandleader, band member, and session musician ...

1962 *

Kathy Linden Kathy Linden (born 1938) is an American pop singer from Moorestown Township, New Jersey. She grew up in Burlington, New Jersey. Linden scored two big hits on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 late in the 1950s. The first was " Billy", a song origi ...

released a version of the song as a B-side to her 1962 single "Remember Me (To Jimmy)".Kathy Linden, "Remember Me (To Jimmy)" single release
45cat.com, Retrieved January 22, 2016. *'' The Essential Glen Campbell Volume Three''

Other songs

Solomon Burke, the Brothers Four, Billy Walker, Connie Francis,

Chet Atkins Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nashville sound, the country music ...

, and Roy Acuff. *"Beautiful Brown Eyes" Trad. Connie Francis Sings Folk Song Favorites *"Beautiful Brown Eyes" Trad. Arr.: O. Henry, hit for

Sir Henry and his Butlers Sir Henry and his Butlers was a Danish rock- pop group which was formed during the summer of 1964 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The group is mostly known for its two front figures Ole "Sir Henry" Bredahl and especially Tommy Seebach and also the song "Le ...

1966 *"Beautiful Brown Eyes" Solomon Burke discography B-side 1964 on album Rock 'n' Soul. Covered by

Colleen Hewett Colleen Hewett (born 16 April 1950) is an Australian singer and actress. Hewett's top 40 singles on the Kent Music Report include " Super Star", " Day by Day" (both 1971), " Carry That Weight" (1972), "Dreaming My Dreams with You" (1980) ...

of The Laurie Allen Revue, single August 1967. *"Beautiful Brown Eyes" written by Grace Walters, an otherwise unknown Motown discography writer, for The Freeman Brothers produced by Berry Gordy, Jr., and covered on ''

The Country and Western Sound of Jazz Pianos ''The Country and Western Sound of Jazz Pianos'' is an album recorded by jazz pianists Toshiko Akiyoshi and Steve Kuhn in New York City in 1963 and released on the Dauntless label. It was later re-released on the Chiaroscuro label under the t ...

''.

References

{{authority control 1951 songs Kathy Linden songs The Brothers Four songs

Background

Recordings

Other songs

See also

References