Tawny Reed

Our pick of the pops

In the mid-1960s, Welsh teenager Tawny (sometimes spelt Tawney) Reed issued just two singles on the Pye label – and one on New York’s famous Red Bird label. Though she failed to score a hit, her gutsy vocals have made her a favourite of fans of the Britgirl genre.

She was born in Cardiff, Wales, and raised in the Adamstown district of the city.

As a teenager, she signed up with a local management company and began performing in clubs in south Wales with backing group the Flower Pot Men.

In 1965, the now 17-year-old Tawny signed to the Pye label, where she was taken under the wing of Tony Hatch, the writer and producer of hits for Petula Clark and Jackie Trent, amongst others.

Her first 45, released in October 1965, was a

cracking cover of Motown girl group the

Velvelettes’ Needle in a haystack. On the flip

was a suped-up version of Baby Washington’s

I’ve got a feeling. Both sides proved perfect

showcases for her energetic vocal style and

drew comparisons with Scottish singer Lulu.

The single was considered strong enough for

release in the US, where it was issued on the Red

Bird label. Tawny was the only Brit girl to

receive the distinction of having a release

on the legendary New York label,