DEFENDING TINA TURNER

Kristine McKenna’s review of Tina Turner’s new album (“Break Every Rule”) reads more like a character assassination than a serious music critique (Record Rack, Sept. 7).

Alternating in tone between bitchy and outright mean, McKenna spends the first two paragraphs attacking Turner for wearing wigs, having a successful comeback album, making a movie, being interviewed by People magazine and leaving an allegedly abusive husband.

She goes on to say Nina Simone, Etta James and Dusty Springfield can sing rings around Turner. These are ridiculous comparisons. To begin with, Simone is primarily a jazz vocalist; Turner is pop/rock. James is a blues singer and although powerful within the limits of her genre, has a total vocal range of five notes. And Dusty Springfield? You’ve got to be kidding.

CHRISTOPHER E. CANTINO

San Francisco