Tra Special Comics is an anthology compilation cassette released by Tra Project in February 1984. Part of a series of special releases, Tra Special Comics was packaged with a 155 page comic book.
The Residents contributed an early version of "Safety Is A Cootie Wootie" to the compilation, and an eight page comic based on the track appears in the accompanying book.
History[]
"Tra Special" was a series of special releases by the Japanese label Tra Project. Each release focused on a specific theme or featured a particular artist, and came in an elaborate package including a cassette with a special bonus.
The fourth instalment in the series was based around the concept of comics. Therefore, the cassette was packaged with an 155-page book with comics inspired by the tracks in the album. The cassette came in a tiger-shaped case, which itself was packaged in a cardboard box cut in a way that simulated a cage.
The cassette serves as a soundtrack to the book, as it is meant to be played while reading. With the exception of the introduction, each track has an accompanying comic; or, in the case of the artists that submitted two music entries, one comic that accompanies both of their tracks. Some of the artists featured in the cassette also contributed to the book, but other comics were drawn by guests.
In the book, the art styles and lengths of the comics vary wildly. Some feature simple storylines, while others are more abstract. After each entry a photo and brief bio of each artist is given in both English and Japanese.
The Residents' involvement[]
First page of the Safety Is A Cootie Wootie comic.
The Residents were asked to contribute to Tra Special Comics in early 1984, and submitted an early version of their suite "Safety Is A Cootie Wootie" to the compilation. As the cassette was released a few months earlier than The Residents' own White Single (which featured a later version of the suite as the B-side), the suite remained a Japan-exclusive for a short time.[1]
This version of "Safety Is A Cootie Wootie", like the one released later on The White Single, is not the "complete" suite, as it only features the "Toddler Lullaby" and "Safety Is a Cootie Wootie" sections. The introductory section, "Prelude for a Toddler", was first published as a bonus track on The Big Bubble CD release.
The Residents also made their own 8-page comic for the book titled after the suite. The comic features very abstract illustrations which offer no clear storyline or connection to the music. Unlike the rest of the collaborators, The Residents do not give any details about their career nor any photos in the attached bio; only the message "Residents?".
It should be noted that not only does Ralph Records receive a mention in the "Special Thanks" section of the credits, but also Hajime Tachibana, who was signed with the label at the time. Tachibana wasn't directly involved with the project, but he appeared on other Tra Project releases.
Track listing[]
Side A (29:30)[]
- Introduction (0:21)
- Kenichi Hanada & Takahiro Nagino - Mountain, Waterfall, Tunnel, Deck, Pool, Building (2:22)
- Mute Beat - Shonen Tiger (8:09)
- Kaoru Ijima & Yoshinori Toda - Maze Of De Profsky (2:10)
- Bill Bagley - The Bumland Anthem (3:17)
- Shigeru Sugiura & Teruhiko Yumura - Interview (3:44)
- George Tokoro - Delta Star (9:27)
Side B (28:30)[]
- Andy Keating & David Mahler - Sound Piece For 4 Spit Ball (1:25)
- Michimasa Itaya - Dying Canvus Ⅱ (1:45)
- Michimasa Itaya - Miro's Moon (3:53)
- Minako Hojyo - Kogen No Muse (2:35)
- The Residents - Safety Is A Cootie Wootie (6:34)
- Yoshinori Toda - Hi - Hi - Hi - Hi (2:59)
- Yoshinori Toda - The Days Of Heaven (0:31)
- David "Kun-Fu" Mack & Keiko "Jar-Bra" Nishi - Love.....Can Be So Wonderful (3:40)
- Katsura Kobayoshi & Tetsujin Band with Genji Sawai - Tetsujin Tarzan (4:13)
- Hiroshi Morinaga - Ballerina Story (0:59)
Credits[]
- Editor in chief: Hajime Anzai
- Producer / President: Kioshi Shikita
- Executive Director: Kauro Ijima & Michimasa Itaya
- Art Director: Michimasa Itaya
- Design: TABOU & CO-MIX
- Associate Director: Judith Connor & Zensei Teramura
- Assistant: Shio Sakamoto (CO-MIX), Kayoko Anzai, Sakae Kamunima, Emiko Kato, Hiroshi Aoyagi
- Sound Engineer: Masaaki Takayama & Takashi Takeuchi
- Printing: Toshin Printing Co., Ltd.
- Special Thanks to: Keisuke Konishi, Ralph Records, Hajime Tachibana & NANYOSHA
See also[]
Resources[]
- "Safety Is A Cootie Wootie" comic (PDF file, 8.19 MB)