A-T-2 238 The Necessaries - Event Horizon
The legend goes Arthur Russell abruptly quits The Necessaries by jumping out of the van at the mouth of the Holland Tunnel in New York, while on the way to an important gig. Before he did that though there was 1.5 albums and a single he contributed too. Long time Arthur Russell collaborator Ernie Brookes (bassist for The Modern Lovers) convinces Arthur to join them in 1981. If you know the Arthur Russell compilation Love Is Taking Over Me, Ernie Brookes plays on nearly every track on that, another Arthur Russell collaborator Peter Zummo is brought in to play on the album, Brookes, Zummo, and Russell had been in The Flying Hearts together. Both Big Sky and Event Horizon are produced by Bob Blank at Blank Tapes. Bob Blank is engineer in the studio for a lot of Arthur Russell's disco and experimental output. Lola who releases Wax The Van co-written and performed by Arthur Russell is Bob Blank's wife. On track Driving And Talking At The Same Time Arthur Russell's keyboard is reminiscent of Is It All Over My Face... although more power pop
I think there's a valid case for comparison with early REM
"Event Horizon represents the partial overhaul given to The Necessaries’ first record Big Sky (1981). Renamed and relaunched in 1982, The New York Rocker described the revised LP as benefitting from “some shuffling, some trimming of deadweight and the setting of real gems in their place."" Be With Records remastered and reissued the album in 2017 https://www.bewithrecords.com/products/the-necessaries-event-horizon-lp
On the Run
Driving and Talking at the Same Time
The Finish Line
