What's on Richardson's iPod?

No, not the Richardson you're thinking of. This is Tony Richardson here, the younger son of Ken. I'm writing this from my dad's office because today is Take Your Sons & Daughters to Work Day.

Now, I realize that usually this event is for the younger generation. But even though I am 17 years old, go to high school, and am a licensed pilot (more on that later), I'm still participating because it's my last chance to do so.

The music on my iPod is probably not what you're thinking of either. Just take a look at my first playlist:

The Doors' "Break On Through (to the Other Side)," Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Green River" and "Fortunate Son," Rare Earth's "Get Ready," Deep Purple's "Hush," Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction," the Bob Seger System's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man," Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit"

That playlist is called "Vietnam-Era Music." It may be hard to imagine a teen in 2009 listening to music from way before he was born, but I remember listening to Oldies every morning since I was 10 years old. I grew up hearing the rebellious songs that first came out during the Vietnam War, and I still like them today. They all have a good beat for any occasion, whether it be driving or flying.

Speaking of driving, here are some of the songs on my playlist called "Driving Music":

BookerT.&theMG'sGreenOnions Booker T. & the MGs' "Green Onions," War's "Low Rider," Deep Purple's "Highway Star," Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz," Squeeze's "Cool for Cats," the Stray Cats' "Rock This Town"

For the record, I also have the Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night," the Box Tops' "The Letter," and of course the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Can't Buy Me Love," "Help!," and "Nowhere Man."

And even though I do go all the way back to Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire," I also listen to more recent music:

Primus's "John the Fisherman," Bad Religion's "You," L7's "Pretend We're Dead," the New Pornographers' "Electric Version," Honest Bob & the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives' "Soy Bomb"

Obtaining some of my older songs was no easy task. I have an iTunes account, but I mainly use it for recent songs. I am not at all fond of cover versions of the old songs I try to find, instead favoring the original recordings, which are sometimes hard to get. Many songs on my iPod I have heard on various videogames, mostly from the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series.

Meanwhile, speaking of flying, even though I love visiting Sound & Vision, I really loved visiting one of its sister magazines, Flying, a few floors down. Being a pilot, I felt right at home, being engaged in "airplane talk" with the editors. One thing I've always wanted to do is take my dad on a flight around Manhattan and show him his office building from the air.

So now I have two magazines in this building that I like!

- Tony Richardson

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