It means that that side is the Hit side...the star also appeared on the Columbia "Greatest Hits" Lp's of the '50's and '60's.
That was my first thought. That it meant the disc was from the Carrollton, Georgia pressing plant. But I couldn't swear to that.
A dark triangle within a white circle appears on this Epic cassette from '91 but is only present on Side 1.
It's the ink that was white; if you process that photo in negative mode, you'll see that the type is like with the CD example. But this is what I mean by Carrollton, GA-made cassettes.
I have three discs with the "weird symbol": U.S. copies of "Wish you were here", "The pros and cons of hitch hiking" and "The Wall". "Wish.." and "The pros.." have CMU P on matrix, so IIRC these are Pitman, New Jersey pressings.
Maybe it means "this is the side you start with first", but of course it's on CD's, making... my... logic... moot.
It's on my vinyl copy of the Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill, which was released by Def Jam who are owned by Columbia...
How strange, over 50 posts and on one knew what it is? I have the answer everyone (I hope that there is a prize here), it is a CBS associated labels' designation of a digital master used to make the cassette, LP, and obviously CD.
I want an AF 45 test pressing or a Beatles mono box for that very rare piece of info that I am the only person in the known universe to know. Come on, this was a pretty good tip. When you stump W.B. you know you are talking obscure.
That's a new one on me. Especially since I may've seen that symbol on a very later Carrollton LP pressing of Blood, Sweat & Tears 3.
I've seen it on 45 singles as well. I think it was Rolling Stones 89' Steel Wheels era. btw, what is Carrollton?