During the year leading up to Jamaica’s 50th Independence Day on August 6, 2012, every week we’ll be compiling a list of things celebrating Jamaican foods, music, culture, people and more. We begin with our picks of the Top 50 Ska songs (not in any order). Feel free post your comments with your top Jamaican Ska songs.

Here are our picks of the Top 50 Ska songs (not in any order):

1. Ska Ska Ska – The Skatalites
2. My boy lollypop – Millie Small
3. Forward March – Derrick Morgan
4. Ball Of Fire – The Skatalites
5. Simmer Down – Bob Marley & The Wailers
6. The Train is Coming Baby – Ken Boothe
7. Blazing Fire – Derrick Morgan
8. Riding For A Fall – John Holt
9. No Raise No Praise – Derrick Morgan
10. Eastern Standard Time – The Skatalites
11. Hard Man Fi Dead   – Prince Buster
12. Occupation – The Skatalites
13. James Bond Theme – The Skatalites
14. Wear You To The Ball – Paragons
15. Rudies In Court   – Prince Buster
16. Sammy No Dead – Clancy Eccles
17. Over The River – Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
18. Carry Go Bring Come – Justin Hinds
19. Baby I Love You – Carl Dawkins
20. When I Call Your Name – Stranger Cole & Patsy
21. Bend Down Low – Bob Marley & The Wailers
22. I’ve Gotto Go Back home – Alton Ellis
23. Dance Crashers – Alton Ellis
24. Girl I’ve Got A Date   – Alton Ellis
25. Things You Say You Love – Brent Dowe
26. If You Knew How Much  – Phylis Diller
27. oo7 – Desmond Decker
28. If I Had The World – Dennis Brown
29. Dancing Mood – Delroy Wilson
30. Oh Carolina – Clarendonians
31. 54-46 was my number – Toots & The Maytalsl
32. Pressure Drop  – Toots & The Maytals
33. Guns Of Navarone – The Skatalites
34. Shame and Scandal – The Skatalites
35. Ghost town – The Skatalites
36. Earthquake – Prince Buster
37. Dancing Mood – Delroy Wilson
38. Juice Box – Jackie Mittoo
39. Phoenix City – The Skatalites
40. Life – Laurel Aitken
41. Fever – Toots & the Maytals
42. Corner Stone – Don Drummond
43. Judge Not – Bob Marley
44. Engine 54 – The Ethiopians
45. Independence Ska – Baba Brooks band
46. Frankenstein Ska – Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
47. Bellevue Special (aka No More) – Don Drummond
48. Blackhead Chinaman – Prince Buster
49. Moon Hop – Derrick Morgan
50. Freedom Sounds – The Skatalites