option to either select, play, or open the expanded panel in Album Cover view

[Steven]

This tread became quite lengthy and digressed a lot, but the original issue still remains.

I will do this but its too late for the current version. If I do forget to do it in the next version please feel free to bump it again

[Steven]

Another solution could be using a modifier key, so that e.g. using {Alt}+{left mouse click} only selects, and doesn't collapse the album.

As I have time today and its very simple to implement this suggestion, it is now done: {Alt}+{left mouse click} doesn't expand the album. To select multiple albums, you would then use the Ctrl key.
Also you still have the "click to play" button which when clicked wont expand the album but of course only applies to a single album

https://getmusicbee.com/patches/MusicBee33_Patched.zip

[hiccup]

That's much appreciated.
(it may sound petty, but it has been my single recurring annoyance with MB for years)

[phred]

Thanks Steven