Nightline Playlist: Rick Springfield

Aug. 15, 2008— -- Rick Springfield is more than a daytime soap star and singer of the hit "Jessie's Girl," which was recently voted as the No. 1 karaoke song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. He is also a devoted husband and father of two who bonded with one son over Radiohead's far-out "Kid A."

Now, after decades of Top 40 hits and 19 million albums sold, Springfield is releasing "Venus in Overdrive," his first record in five years.

"Playing it now has become more like a family member," Springfield said about "Jessie's Girl." "It's kind of gone beyond being a song … that is really just like saying, 'Here is one of my really good friends,'" Springfield told "Nightline" in an interview in New York's Kobe Club restaurant.

But while he admits he is a pop artist, Springfield also claims an allegiance to far heavier rock.

"It's always been Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and the heavier bands," he said. "You, know, like Tool. I love Tool."

One reason he loves Tool is his eldest son's affection for the band. Radiohead is another shared enthusiasm.

"I was driving him to school and we were so excited, both of us, about 'Kid A' coming out," Springfield said.

Father and son had their minds blown by the previous Radiohead album, "O.K. Computer." Then "Kid A" came on the car radio.

"We both looked at each other and we were like, 'What is this?'" Springfield said. "So anytime I hear anything from 'Kid A,' I am back in the car, driving my son to school."

Springfield was weaned on classic rock in his native Australia. As a second-grader, he walked to school with Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover" stuck in his head.

"That was the first time that I was aware of saying 'Hey, that is a cool song,'" Springfield said.