The Empress Dowager (1975)

Han Hsiang Li's lush epic re-creates the fascinating life and times of Tzu Hsi, the Manchu Qing dynasty empress who rose from the ranks of Emperor Xianfeng's many concubines to become the de facto ruler of China for nearly 50 …

The Deadly Nightshade is a New England-based rock and country trio consisting of members Anne Bowen, Pamela Brandt, and Helen Hooke, who originally began performing under the name Ariel in 1967, along with Gretchen Pfeifer and Beverly Rodgers. It was one of the earliest all-women rock bands signed to a major label, and an early women's music group. Some early members of the group originally performed as the Moppets.
In 1970, Ariel separated. Bowen then reunited with former bandmates Brandt and Hooke in 1972, to play at a women's festival, now as the Deadly Nightshade. In 1974, the band secured one of the first record contracts as an all-female band to a major label, Phantom/RCA, and went on to release two albums to mixed reviews. They performed at Ms. Magazine's second annual party in 1974. During the height of their success in the mid-seventies, The Deadly Nightshade appeared on Sesame Street, singing its version of the Carter Family hit "Keep on the Sunny Side", as well as several of the band's own songs.

The Manhattan Transfer is the second album by The Manhattan Transfer. However, it is the first of four albums to be released by the line-up of Tim Hauser, Laurel Massé, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel, and the first to establish the sound and style for which the group would become known. It was released on April 2, 1975 with Atlantic Records as distributor, and was produced by Ahmet Ertegün and Tim Hauser. This incarnation of the group had been together for three years before this album was released. Ertegün, founder and chairman of Atlantic Records, attended one of their performances at the New York cabaret Reno Sweeney. He offered them a contract, which they accepted. The melody of track 12, "Heart's Desire" is virtually identical to the 1931 song "That's My Desire," which has music by Helmy Kresa and lyrics by Carroll Loveday. The Manhattan Transfer debuted on Billboard's Top Pop album chart on May 3, 1975, reaching #33. The single "Operator" went to #22 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. "Tuxedo Junction" reached #24 on the British pop charts.