I have found a web site that sell what appears to be a CD of Arthur Smith and the Crackerjacks that has the Red Headed Stranger on it as well as 26 other Arthur Smith songs.   They want $15 for the CD. Maybe this will put the rest the quest for the original singer of the song.

Here is the link to it: http://www.countysales.com/products.php?product=ARTHUR-SMITH-'Arthur-Guitar-Boogie-Smith-%26-The-Cracker-Jacks'