[Dr Stig 2]

It has to be set maually every time you switch to the music collection.
i.e. even if you select random, then flick to the radio and back again to the music collection, you have to hit random again.
I set up a programmable button (number 7) in each of my cars so that I can hit random quickly each time I start to play music off the HDD.

I have found though if you are careful with the arrangement of files on the USB stick (each album folder in the root directory) when you upload them to the HDD then you can manually select an album from its name on the USB upload directory ont he HDD and play the songs in the original album order.

If you find the album by the music search function instead - it will always play them alphabetically unless you hit the random button (which you will have conveniently set to programmable button 7 in advance)