I like Windows Media Player (using version 11) but I don't like it's library. It does odd things like putting one of 12 tracks in a different album, and labeling it "unknown artist" or splitting an album of duets into single albums for each guest on the album.
Even when it gets things right I don't want or need a database of my music. I have managed to stop it listing all my music, but it continues to pick up any new addition to the My Music folder, and manage or mismanage them as I have described. Is it possible to disable it completely?

I like WMP11 too, but I do not see the issues you are talking about, but then I am not sure I understand your issues - but again, I am not a WMP expert either - just a user.

It does odd things like putting one of 12 tracks in a different album, and labeling it "unknown artist"

And where are the source files? On a CD? You say "albums", are you talking vinyl?

I am about 1/3 through ripping my 600+ CD library and I have not seen that. What I have seen in my Holiday Stuff with some CDs that are compilations of tunes from various artists, WMP names them all "Various Artists". While frustrating, I can't blame WMP as that information is retrieved from the CD or CDDB. And it can be edited.

Even when it gets things right I don't want or need a database of my music

Are saying you only want to listen to your CDs and do not want tunes saved to your hard drive? Have you gone through the extensive Tools > Option menus? First tab, Player, is "Add media files to library when played" checked? What about under Rip Music - what's checked there?

but it continues to pick up any new addition to the My Music folder

I don't understand what you mean here. What does "pick up" mean? The My Music folder is a folder WMP is supposed to use. Again, in the Tools > Options menu look under Library > Monitor Folders.

Hi Digerati
thanks for your post, and sorry to be a bit slow to respond, real life etc.

Okay,
An example of WMP "splitting" albums is a recent acquisition, Reba McEntire Duets. I edited the ID3 tags to add the other person under album artist, along with Reba. The library then showed 12 different albums with one track each. Other examples of this are splitting Massive Attack's singles collection into several files when it was issued as one release and AMG which WMP seems to use lists it that way, though I can see how it would get confused with multiple releases - it is trying to be smarter than it is, seems to me.

Re not wanting a database of my music, I am quite happy to open My Music, or another file containing music and clicking on "play selection" I don't see any advantage in accessing the music via the player.

Re albums, I use the term interchangeably with CDs. I think CDs are still referred to as albums unless they are singles. Some of my music did originate as vinyl and some as tape, they are all music files as far as My Music or WMP is concerned.

Re Options, I don't have any boxes checked. I use dB Poweramp Music Converter for ripping (as well as tag editing and a lot of other things - a very capable little app the makers accurately describe as deceptively simple), and Nero for burning.

Re the library "picking up" new music, I have stopped it creating a full library by unchecking all the boxes I can. When I add a music file to My Music the library also gets hold of it, and sometimes makes a complete hash of it as the example of Reba's Duets, and Massive Attacks singles collection. But even in simple releases with one album artist it has on occasion recognised all but one track as what is supposed to be, and leaves one lonely track as "Unknown album." It is this last function I would like to disable, as I said I don't want a database of my music files, and having one or other music folders open while the player is playing is not an inconvenience.
I hope that has made things clearer, in a nutshell I want to keep using WMP as a music player, I have even persuaded it to play flac files, but I don't want it managing my music collection; I will muddle through that on my own.

Well, I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions. I hope you get it sorted out and keep us posted.

Thanks Digerati.
I think by keeping WMP as a player and using the other apps for ripping and burning it will minimise the annoyance.
Also keeping music in other folders (I have it over two hard drives) will also reduce the problem.
If I find a solution I will post it here.
Cheers