Watch on YouTube Music history, told one story at a time.
Every great song has a story—and usually a few wrong turns, lucky breaks, and unexpected characters along the way. Beyond the Tracks goes looking for them.
STORIES BEHIND THE SOUNDDrop the needle
Behind every famous song is a story most people have never heard. Expect a few surprises, an occasional mystery, and plenty of human drama that makes familiar music sound new again.
VOLUME 27Volume 27 • 21:26
The story behind Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309/Jenny,” from the band’s name and Jenny’s identity to the trouble—and unexpected good—caused by pop music’s most famous phone number.
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VOLUME 26Volume 26 • 33:37
The riff, the real Sharona, and the record deal behind The Knack’s biggest hit. Follow “My Sharona” from its beginnings to the backlash that followed the band’s sudden success.
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VOLUME 25Volume 25 • 59:27
Two songs, two views of the Beatles’ Liverpool childhood. Follow “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” from their real-life inspirations to the Abbey Road sessions, groundbreaking films, and an unexpected chart result.
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VOLUME 24Volume 24 • 18:57
Carlos Santana hadn’t had a hit in seventeen years. Rob Thomas imagined someone else singing “Smooth.” Their unexpected partnership became one of the biggest hits in Billboard history.
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About the host
I’m Dom Testa—a writer, longtime broadcaster, and lifelong music obsessive.
My decades-long career in radio taught me that the best part of any song is often the story just outside the spotlight.
Beyond the Tracks is where I explore those stories: the demo that nearly disappeared, the lyric everyone misunderstood, the session player who changed everything.
At age 5, I was scribbling my name with a magic marker on my older sister's Beatles albums. At 15, I knew what I'd be doing with my life.
Now, my love of storytelling and my passion for music come together in a project that feels like the natural continuation of everything I’ve done.
I hope each episode helps you hear a familiar song, album, or artist with fresh ears.
“A great song might last four minutes. Its story can last forever.”
Keep listening
Every volume has its own companion playlist, gathering the featured songs and the music surrounding the story. Listen before, after, or while you follow the trail.
Explore BTT on Spotify ↗A growing collection
Watch the complete Beyond the Tracks series, or browse the archive and choose the mystery that catches your ear.
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