1992.XX.XX – The Sylvia Massy Outtakes
Recorded at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, CA. USA

“Sweat / Part Of Me”

Source: Sound Board Studio Recording > DAT-M
Transfer: DAT-M > UXL 2496 > Tascam DA 20 MKII
Gen: CU.ORG Master
Transferred by: Galen

Notes on The Sylvia Massy Outtakes:
In November 2020, Sylvia Massy, the recording engineer for Tool on both Opiate and Undertow, offered a bunch of old memorabilia of Tool for sale on her website with a solid focus seemingly on audio cassettes, DATs and even reel-to-reel consisting of studio outtakes. These items were not remotely cheap as in thousands and thousands of dollars. Unsurprisingly, her store quickly sold out of most everything rather quickly. Unsure of the legality of selling something like that but she did have a note specifying that the only thing for sale were the physical tapes and not the information contained on them. To complicate things, apparently, she was trying to sell the physical Master (Reel to Reel tape) of Undertow. To be clear and without a shadow of a doubt: Sylvia Massy has transfers of every single thing she sold but it is also true that there is no incentive for her to release anything pertaining to Tool in the short or long term.

Notes: Starting with an almost totally instrumental version of Sweat, this is an interesting capture of Tool working on capturing the vocals although it is clear that Maynard had been somewhat under the weather. Danny, Adam and Paul appear to have the sound musically down. The Massey recordings are unique as you quite literally are a fly on the wall for really early recordings of Tool. As of 2024, there really are not many items to compare the recordings to let alone just to hear the band jam in the studio; which is what a bit of this is. Just jamming, getting loose. It is worth keeping in mind that this gem is only one of potentially hundred/s from this time period on DAT. There is a LOT of Massy content which fans bought which is not released/known/whatever but it is out in the wild. All you OGT collectors, let’s see what you have. Let’s see your skills and help uncover some of these treasures. I do not care if I hear another Massy tape myself, I just think it would be great if anything else trickled out. What, a SBD 1992 NYC show @ The Limelight Massy was offering to sell for $10K+? Sure it’s on reel-to-reel and I’m the only person I know with a reel-to-reel machine but that would be quite sweet if that made it out.

DAT Tape Time: 90:00

Sweat
(No Vocals except a softly spoken chorus with a healthy belch from MJK beforehand)
<Sings Rio by Duran Duran in a joking manner followed by some discussions including name dropping Maynard’s Dick>

Sweat
(Vocals, but very subdued and no strenuous vocal cord activity)
<Cut at end, Danny broke a drum head>

Drums > Guitar > Bass > Last ¼ of Sweat with vocals
(MJK asking if Polly wants a cracker, over and over again)

Unknown Jam (?)
(Partial Song – MP3 Sample 1)

Part of Me
(Incomplete / Non-strenuous Vocals, To first chorus followed by chatter}

Part of Me
(¾ Complete / Non-strenuous Vocals)

Part of Me
(Complete / Non-strenuous Vocals)

Part of Me
(Complete / No Vocals)

Part of Me
(30 seconds then cut)

Part of Me
(No Guitar, Vocals come in about 2/3 way through the song; MJK apparently feeling better)

Part of Me
(No Guitar or Vocals)

Sweat
(Complete w/Vocals)

Sweat
(Complete, No Vocals)