The edge that makes Johnny Winter a masterful live performer is what makes his studio records too raw. As a recording artist, in fact, it's a shame that all his albums aren't live. Captured Live is the best of Winter's albums since his comeback, simply because he concentrates on playing guitar with all the unrestrained fire in his possession, which is considerable. The material, a set of perennials and classics ranging from "Bony Moronie" to John Lennon's "Rock & Roll People" to Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited," is perfectly chosen.

The band is the same one Winter has worked with since Still Alive and Well, with the addition of second guitarist Floyd Radford who offers Winter the kind of challenge he needs to really get going. Winter is so self-absorbed that someone has to establish the fundamentals. Bassist Randy Jo Hobbs and drummer Richard Hughes play flat out, but they lack the precision that really frees this kind of guitar rock. With a rhythm section with the control of, say, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman, Winter might really do great things. (RS 209)

DAVE MARSH