My Top 2000 Songs #1030: The Dirty Jobs

Well into our second thousand, and only the second pick off The Who's 1973 masterpiece Quadrophenia. Which annoys me to no end--I want to throw in the whole damn double-LP!--but as noted last time, it's one of those records I really need to hear from start-to-finish, and cherry-picking stand-alone favorites is a fool's errand. Still, let's give it a shot.

There are probably better options than "The Dirty Jobs," but something about the track has always given it just a little more resonance. Could be Daltrey's vocals, among his most vulnerable yet still passionate deliveries, at the height of his powers (indeed, their reliance on guest vocalists for later live performances confirms he was hitting high notes that could never be recaptured). Or maybe it's just that highly specific narrative of a kid working go-nowhere jobs that feels particularly meaningful. 

Incredible live version, with guest vocals from Pink Floyd's David Gilmour:

From Phish's 1995 performance of Quadrophenia:

Punk-pop tribute from The Shreds:

Pete Townshend's demo: