MARLEY...leads Top 40 nominations.

With two weeks to go before the selection of the final batch of songs in the Jamaica Top 40: Great Songs From A Great Nation contest, organisers say there have been some interesting developments going into the home-stretch.

The brainchild of the Jamaica 40 Secretariat, the contest's aim is to gather the 40 most influential songs recorded by Jamaicans since the country gained independence in 1962.

Contest coordinator, Dennis Howard, says his committee was forced to make some harsh decisions.

"We had to eliminate some key songs because they didn't qualify," Howard told Throb. "Otherwise, most of the songs are spot on."

Millie Small's My Boy Lollipop -- this country's first international hit -- was one of the rejects on the grounds that it was a cover. Only originals are eligible.

The Ffolkes Brothers' Oh Carolina and Theophilus Beckford's Easy Snappin', other early hit songs, were among the popular picks thrown out. Both were recorded in the late 1950s before independence.

Some songs that were chart-riders rather than classics, found their way onto several of the judges cards including Massive Dread's This Is Massive; Chalice's I Still Love You and Fresh Vegetable by Tony Rebel.

The most popular picks, however, are well-known to Jamaicans. These include Bob Marley's No Woman, No Cry, Redemption Song and One Love; Jimmy Cliff's Many Rivers To Cross and the Dennis Brown 'prayer', Here I Come.

The selection panel comprises musicologists, journalists, sound system operators, songwriters and producers.

Howard is also reminding the public that the cut-off date for music enthusiasts to vote for their Top 40 is September 5. A countdown of the final 40 -- which will be compiled for a commemorative compact disc -- is tentatively scheduled for September 11 on IRIE FM.

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