Earlier quoted context omitted.
> but I'm fairly certain the original course was taught to MIT undergrads as an intro to CS and EE This is correct: The course number was 6.001 and was a requirement in EECS in those days. I took it while SICP was still only notes in 1983, and the notes ended up as a book shortly after.
Actually, the course number back then was 6.031. I only become 6.001 later on.
Must not have been clear in my post: It was 6.001 in 1983, when I took the class with Sussman and Abelson. The book was still not published, and they gave it to us as xeroxed notes.