Roland TR-77 Article Page
Introduction
Date: 1972
Type: Analogue Drum Machine with presets
Roland launched with a series of drum machines in 1972, the TR-33, TR-55, TR-77; the TR-77 being the most sophisticated of the range. It was actually a rebadged Ace Tone FR-8L, as Ikutaro Kakehashi started Roland that year, and moved products over.
It has thirteen sounds: bass drum, low conga, low and high bongo, cowbell, rimshot, claves, snare, maracas, hi-hat, cymbal, tambourine and guiro.
It has nineteen rhythms:
Jazz Rhythms: rock and roll 1 & 2, slow rock, ballad, western, 6/8 march, jazz waltz, waltz
Latin Rhythms: rhumba, beguine, cha-cha, mambo, samba 1 & 2, bossa-noca, Baion, bolero, tango.
A popular machine, and great sounding too. Used on many records.
Archetypal Track
Gerge Macrae, 'Rock Your Baby' (1974)
Demonstrated on BBC series 'Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution' (S1E1 2024)
First Ever TR-77 track
Associated artists
Table of Songs featuring Roland TR-77
| Artist | Song | Year | Notes | Reference | Media URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Macrae | Rock Your Baby | 1973 | Provides the rhythmic backing of the song | BBC documentary: George sings solo over the TR-77 playing the 'Rock Your Baby' rhythm. (look up which one it is!) | YouTube |
