Listening to this version of The Other One I’m reminded that I’m the parent of a toddler. For those that are unaware young kids like movies. But they binge on the same movie for extended periods of time. My oldest son is really into Toy Story and I’ve come to realize that when Healy messed with Bobby’s vocals on this song in the 80s it ended up sounding like the little green guys from those movies.

In a sense, that idea fits nicely with this April Fools show in that it continues the joke, albeit unintentionally, 25 years later. Clearly gone are the days of the 25-35 minute Other Ones of the early 70s, but there tends to be a degree of concision and energy with a lot of the versions from the late Brent period. Compare this version to my previous Other One entry to see what a difference a decade makes.

The Other One hits the ground running and reaches for the upper limits right out of the gate. There’s an additional artist playing with the band here, as Dan Healy is at the board and injecting Wilburys into Weir’s vocal mic. This treatment makes it seem like the bus is more of a spaceship than a land vehicle. Nevertheless, the first verse is quickly over and the excitement continues into a jam segment. Jerry makes his axe squeal. The percussionists drone one, moving the song forward. Bobby slashes and attacks his guitar in angular approaches. Each staccato gash seems to fit though and the crazy continues to charge ahead. Finally everyone gets some breathing room as the band settles into the verse groove, but some MIDI patches enter the mix and things get weird again in a hurry, but these don’t last long and it’s back to the straight ahead jam. A quick dynamic change signals the second verse, and with Healy’s help Weir delivers it sounding like a cross between him and the little green guys in Toy Story. Clearly the verses are the bookends here because soon after Bobby finishes singing it’s off to the next one…

Complete Setlist 4/1/88

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