Tina Turner: Break Every Rule (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This serviceable look at rock diva Turner is the latest in more than 40 celebrity bios ranging from the sublime (Madonna: Blonde Ambition) to the ridiculous (Ice Ice Ice: The Extraordinary Vanilla Ice Story) written by Bego over the last 20 years. What he offers that many seemingly glossy bios don't is a sincere enthusiasm for his subject and a willingness to go beyond summarizing news clips to provide uncritical fans with something more for their money, even if he sometimes gets too enthusiastic ("It is impossible not to notice that everything about Tina Turner exudes class and refinement"). Bego covers much of the same ground as the singer's autobiography I, Tina, the definitive look at the star's stormy career with abusive husband Ike up to and through her 1980s comeback. But Bego offers some good historical and musical detail not found in Turner's book: he injects key quotes from Ike Turner, adding another layer to his clearly horrible treatment of Tina, and analyzes the Turners' various record deals with small labels like Kent Records in the 1960s to show the extent to which Tina was overworked and underpaid. He brings the same level of attention to Turner's post-comeback work in the '90s, although he doesn't go much beyond listing impressive box-office records and quoting the singer's own professions of happiness. What makes the book stand out is an impressive discography-more than 30 pages that make sense of Turner's recording career in the '60s, when Ike Turner "would accept overlapping advances from other labels."
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

This revealing, detailed biography not only gives the full story of Turner's dazzling professional career, but also thoroughly explores her turbulent personal battles and ultimate discovery of inner peace through Buddhism. From her modest beginnings as a backup singer for Ike and their debut single A Fool in Love to her successful 1980s comeback and the conferring of her rock goddess status during the last decade of the twentieth century, Tina Turner is the authoritative portrait of the flamboyant superstar with unmistakable voice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1st Taylor Trade Pub. Ed edition (September 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158979253X
• ISBN-13: 978-1589792531
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #990,928 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars NOT "SIMPLY THE BEST", November 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Tina Turner: Break Every Rule (Hardcover)

As a huge Tina fan, I became very excited when I heard about this book. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations.

I think the main flaw lies with the author's research. It doesn't appear as if he interviewed Tina or anyone connected with her. If he had, it might have made a world of difference. The book seems to be a compilation gleaned from every other Tina bio that has been written. There is very little info that hasn't been printed before. Even worse, there are numerous incorrect facts. Most of which could have been fixed had the author done better research.

Case in point: the author states that after leaving Ike and starting her solo career, Tina never again performed the songs A FOOL IN LOVE and ITS GONNA WORK OUT FINE until they had to be re-recorded for her 1993 film biography. Not true. In a commercially-released concert home video from the late 70s, Tina indeed performs both of those songs, along with I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG (another song that the author claims Tina dropped after leaving Ike.)

For those who have not read any other bios on Tina, this is a good introduction and a quick read. But those who have closely followed Tina's life and career will be hard pressed to find anything new here.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great data on Tina's recording career, April 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Tina Turner: Break Every Rule (Hardcover)

If you want to know more about the private life of Tina Turner, buy "I, Tina" written by Tina Turner and Rolling Stone journalist Kurt Loder.
What makes this book great is the fact that it gives you a very detailed view of Tina's recording career and the chart positions her records achieved in the US and the UK charts.
Also a really great discography in the back of the book.
For someone more interested in her achievements instead of her private life, I think this is a great item to add to your Tina Turner collection.