… or the sound of a barrel being scraped?
This SDE release is sub-titled “Underdubbed” and consists of the US version of the original album (the vinyl version is a half-speed master), paired with a second disc which is the initial tough mix prepared by Geoff Emerick before Tony Visconti added the orchestral overdubs.
At least they are honest in their advertising “These so-called ‘Underdubbed Mixes’ are not newly created in the studio in 2023, rather they were prepared by engineer Geoff Emerick on 14 October 1973, less than two months before the release of the album.”
The 50th Anniversary of this album I think deserves a bit more … especially if it’s going to cost £50+ (although it does read like a Giles Martin Dolby Atmos job might be coming later)