Watched the vid.
When Cats Under the Stars came out, Ruben and Cherise was listened to not for the lyrics, but for the envelope filter guitar solo at the end of the song.
Although the lyrics are nice, and they tell a sweet tale, you always have to wait through the whole song to get to the characteristic motif.
Without the characteristic motif at the end, take that away, and its just another song, it just doesn't cut it. imho
I think Jer loved the song, however, and being a player, and it being his song, he could care less what others thought of any rendition he delivered, and so he did this acoustic version, solo.
Somewhere on here, I posted, years ago, a really great "electric" version that he did of this song.
Why is it "really great?" Because he extended that characteristic motif way out there, and it gave the rest of the song the memorability that the audience desired.