I have many original (not necessarily 1st pressings) BNs, Japanese (various King, Toshiba) and TPs. Generally speaking, the RVGs have a more in your face sound with great dynamics and presence. I find the TPs to be very good indeed, more natural and balanced sounding and more extended at the frequency extremes. I won't describe them as having a smiley faced EQ; they only seem that way in comparison to the RVGs. I believe they actually are more representative of what is on the mastertape than the RVGs which are engineered to be 'exciting'. Which seems to be consistent with what Harley is saying.
The Japanese are more somewhere in between the two.