With over 3000 recordings, The Beatles’ song “Yesterday” claims the Guinness World Record for most cover versions. Musicians who have covered “Yesterday” include Liberace, Bon Scott, Willie Nelson, and Boyz II Men. “Yesterday” was the first Beatles recording to feature only one member of the band—Paul McCartney plus strings. The melody of “Yesterday” came to McCartney in a dream. In a 2001 interview, McCartney describes the song’s origins:

“…I couldn’t believe I had written it. I thought I’d heard it…it was so complete…because I didn’t have any words, I used to sing “Scrambled Eggs.” “Oh, my baby, how I love your legs.” But I thought that cannot stay. We’ve got to look for other lyrics…The words took a little longer, but the tune itself came just complete. Came just out of a dream. So you’ve got to believe in magic..” (“The Larry King Show,” CNN 6/12/2001)

McCartney 2001, at “Concert for America” after 9/11:
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Elvis sings “Yesterday”:

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Alan W. Pollack’s musical analysis of “Yesterday