iPod classic on macOS Ventura

I connected my iPod Classic (160gb) to my new M2 MacBook running 13.4.1 (c). It functions as an external disk - I can access all the folders and files I had placed there in the past. In Apple Music - it is recognized but I cannot do anything with it. The message is "The selected device could not be found" - although it does show in the header of the window that is displaying that error message - showing the assigned device and and storage capacity.

Install iTunes 12.9.5.5. --don't use Apple Music. This will allow all the functionality that the old iTunes allowed with the classic iPod and it runs on 13.2.1 Ventura (not sure about more recent OS's).