Index: Slim/Music/Import.pm
===================================================================
--- Slim/Music/Import.pm	(revision 11061)
+++ Slim/Music/Import.pm	(working copy)
@@ -311,6 +311,13 @@
 
 	Slim::Schema->mergeVariousArtistsAlbums;
 
+	# Add experimental album sortartist information
+	$::d_import && msg("Import: Starting addAlbumSortArtist().\n");
+
+	$importsRunning{'addAlbumSortArtist'} = Time::HiRes::time();
+
+	Slim::Schema->addAlbumSortArtist();
+
 	# Post-process artwork, so we can use title formats, and use a generic
 	# image to speed up artwork loading.
 	$::d_import && msg("Import: Starting findArtwork().\n");
Index: Slim/Schema/Contributor.pm
===================================================================
--- Slim/Schema/Contributor.pm	(revision 11061)
+++ Slim/Schema/Contributor.pm	(working copy)
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 	'BAND'        => 4,
 	'ALBUMARTIST' => 5,
 	'TRACKARTIST' => 6,
+	'_SORTARTIST' =>10, # internal contributor role for album sorting
 );
 
 {
Index: Slim/Schema/ResultSet/Album.pm
===================================================================
--- Slim/Schema/ResultSet/Album.pm	(revision 11061)
+++ Slim/Schema/ResultSet/Album.pm	(working copy)
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@
 		if ($sort =~ /contributor/) {
 
 			push @join, { 'contributorAlbums' => 'contributor' };
+
+			# experimental sortartist
+			$cond->{'contributorAlbums.role'} = { 'in' => [ Slim::Schema::Contributor->typeToRole('_SORTARTIST') ] };
 		}
 
 		if ($sort =~ /genre/) {
Index: Slim/Schema/Album.pm
===================================================================
--- Slim/Schema/Album.pm	(revision 11061)
+++ Slim/Schema/Album.pm	(working copy)
@@ -126,7 +126,11 @@
 				
 				if ($showContributor) {
 					# override default field for anchors with contributor.namesort
-					$$anchortextRef = $contributor->namesort;
+					if (!$self->compilation) {
+						$$anchortextRef = $contributor->namesort;
+					} else {
+						$$anchortextRef = Slim::Utils::Text::ignoreCaseArticles(Slim::Music::Info::variousArtistString());
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		# }
Index: Slim/Schema.pm
===================================================================
--- Slim/Schema.pm	(revision 11061)
+++ Slim/Schema.pm	(working copy)
@@ -1222,6 +1222,39 @@
 	Slim::Music::Import->endImporter('mergeVariousAlbums');
 }
 
+# experimental album sort artist - force a single contributor for album sorting, always use VA for compilations
+
+sub addAlbumSortArtist {
+	my $self = shift;
+
+	my $vaObjId = $self->variousArtistsObject->id;
+	my $sortRole = Slim::Schema::Contributor->typeToRole('_SORTARTIST');
+
+	my $cursor  = $self->search('Album', {
+
+		'me.title' => { '!=' => string('NO_ALBUM') },
+
+	})->distinct;
+
+	while (my $albumObj = $cursor->next) {
+
+		if (my @artists = $albumObj->artists) {
+
+			my $sortid = $albumObj->compilation ? $vaObjId : $artists[0]->id;
+
+			$::d_info && msgf("add sortartist %s for album '%s'\n", $sortid == $vaObjId ? 'VA' : $sortid, $albumObj->name);
+
+			$albumObj->contributorAlbums->find_or_create({
+				'album'       => $albumObj->id,
+				'contributor' => $sortid,
+				'role'        => $sortRole,
+			});
+		}
+	}
+
+	Slim::Music::Import->endImporter('addAlbumSortArtist');
+}
+
 =head2 wipeCaches()
 
 Clears the lastTrack caches, and forces a database commit.