LETTERS TO L.A. LIFE : NO RECORD COMPANY IS AN ISLAND IN TODAY'S MUSIC BIZ.

I read Fred Shuster's column ``Fewer labels, fewer risks'' (L.A. Life, Jan. 29) with great interest. As a teen-ager I implicitly trusted Chris Blackwell and Island Records. I literally bought every record they released - Traffic, Free, Mott the Hoople, Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, Bob Marley & the Wailers, the Sutherland Brothers - and I don't think I ever wasted my money.

I even bought one record just because it was produced by Muff Winwood, who made a lot of records I liked on Island. (It was the first Dire Straits record, and I was overjoyed how great it was!)

In the old days when I worked at a record store, I loved to play records. People would come up and ask who was playing and I'd sell them a copy. Then we'd both be back to buy album No. 2 when it came out.

I don't feel that way at all anymore because it's all about money, singles, market share and corporate profits, none of which has anything to do with recording artistry. I don't trust the music industry anymore; they all imitate each other and won't give the real tough artists any time to develop, even though it will take time (David Bowie, Prince?)

- Jon Sutherland

West Hills

(Jon Sutherland is a rock journalist whose columns have appeared in Bam and Album Network).

Spending some time with revised Stones lore

I won't challenge Fred Shuster's list of the 10 best Rolling Stones songs (Feb. 9, L.A. Life) since that's a matter of personal taste - although I'd favor their earlier work (``The Last Time,'' ``Pain in My Heart,'' ``Paint It Black,'' ``Spider and the Fly.'')

However, you greatly erred in stating that they ``mumbled'' a song on TV. Ed Sullivan told them to change the words of ``Let's Spend the Night Together'' to ``Let's Spend Some Time Together'' before they could appear on his show in 1967.

I can still see the malice in Mick's eyes when he shook Ed's hand afterward and said, ``Thank you, Ed.''

- Steve Thompson 

La Crescenta

Twin stars of `Sister, Sister' exemplify grace and class

I noticed your article on ``Sister, Sister'' stars Tia and Tamera Mowry in the Celebrities column (L.A. Life, Feb. 4) . I had the pleasure of meeting the twins last year at the Globetrotters game, and they were the best examples of celebrities I have ever seen. They met every fan with a smile, a joke, a handshake or a hug. They were truly warm and treated the crowd to the most beautiful rendition of ``The Star-Spangled Banner.''

I wish them all the best and thank them for treating their job as role models with the style and respect it deserves.

- Michael Guetzow

Woodland Hills