“Nothing short of miraculous.”
“What Michael Graves was able to do is nothing short of miraculous—we could not be happier with the results.”
— Ed Tomney, The Necessaries (Rock and Roll Globe)
In January 2026, Omnivore Recordings released Completely Necessary (Anthology 1978–1982), the first comprehensive anthology documenting the music of the influential New York band The Necessaries. Spanning three discs and 37 tracks—including 28 previously unissued recordings—the collection brings together the band’s recorded output from their brief but fascinating run between 1978 and 1982.
Produced by Cheryl Pawelski and Ed Tomney, the anthology presents the band’s work across three programs: the restored album Event Horizon, the studio collection Pilots Facing North, and Songs From the Blue Colony, which presents the band’s final studio recordings from 1982.
For this project, Michael Graves worked closely with Tomney while preparing the recordings for release. Restoration and mastering at Osiris Studio drew from multiple archival sources—including ¼-inch analog tape, vinyl, and digital materials—each requiring careful evaluation and restoration before mastering. The goal was to present the recordings as a cohesive listening experience while preserving the character and energy of the original sessions.
Emerging from the late-1970s New York music scene, The Necessaries featured songwriter Ed Tomney, bassist Ernie Brooks (formerly of the Modern Lovers), drummer Jesse Chamberlain, and composer Arthur Russell among its lineup. Early on, the band caught the attention of John Cale, who produced their first single and helped introduce them to the downtown scene that bridged the CBGB generation with the emerging post-punk and new-wave movement.
Although the band released only one album during their original run—Event Horizon (1982)—the recordings captured a distinctive moment in New York music history. Completely Necessary finally gathers these recordings together, revealing a band whose sound blended art-rock experimentation with melodic power-pop songwriting and whose influence can still be heard in the independent rock that followed.
Release Date: January 23, 2026
Label: Omnivore Recordings
Produced by: Cheryl Pawelski & Ed Tomney
Audio Restoration & Mastering: Michael Graves – Osiris Studio