What are the most covered songs of all time? We have a bet on this at the work.

I think White Christmas is the most covered but one of my colleagues thinks it is My Way? - Chris Taylor, North Ormesby According to the Guinness Book of Records, neither of you are right. The most recorded song of all time is Yesterday, a song usually credited to Lenon and McCartney, but specifically written by Paul McCartney.

The Book of Records states that 1,600 cover versions of Yesterday were recorded between June 1965, when the song was released up to January 1986. This number has now risen to approximately 2,500 cover versions.

Artists to cover Yesterday include Elvis Presley, James Brown, Frank Sinatra and Gladys Knight.

Of course, many of the 2,500 versions of 'Yesterday' were released as tracks on albums rather than as singles in their own right, so I am uncertain about what is the most covered single of all time. Surprisingly neither the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) nor the Performing Rights Association carry the statistics for the most covered songs.

Yesterday is undoubtedly the most covered song of all time, but there is a great deal of debate about the second most covered. A number of sources claim that the song Louie Louie written in the early 1950s by Richard Berry can claim this title.

The popularity of Louie Louie as a cover rests on its simple structure and its impenetrable lyrics, easily interpreted as obscene or at the very least risque.

However I understand that the original lyrics for Louie Louie were not actually obscene at all. It was a later cover version that prompted a FBI obscenity investigation. Unfortunately, Berry himself made very little from the song, as he sold the rights for 500 dollars long before its true potential had been realised.

Another song that claims to tie with Yesterday, for most recorded is Irwin J. Levine's Tie a Yellow Ribbon, famously a hit for Tony Orlando and Dawn. It is not the only surprising candidate. Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust claims to have had almost as many if not more recordings than Yesterday. It is popular mainly with American country and western stars and has been recorded by Crystal Gayle and Willie Nelson.

Christmas has had its impact on the most recorded songs with Silent Night regarded as the most recorded in 1955. White Christmas must come a close second with at least 500 different versions recorded in dozens of different languages.

If you have a Burning Question, or can improve on any of the answers above, please write to Burning Questions, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or e-mail David.Simpson@nne.co.uk.

If you have a Burning Question, or can improve on any of the answers above, please write to Burning Questions, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or e-mail david.simpson@nne.co.uk