Finally took the iTunes 11 plunge - some observations, and a question.

Question

So I finally took the plunge, and committed to using iTunes 11 as my main player.
I was using iTunes 10 as my main player, then rebooted to a spare disk with iTunes 11 when I needed to update my iDevices.
I briefly tried iTunes 11 when it first came out, but didn't really like it, so went back to iTunes 10. I finally got tired of having to reboot to sync and update my phone. So I took the plunge. For better or worse. Like a marriage?
Using various guides on the web I have itunes 11 functioning reasonably well.
I still don't like "up next" as much as "DJ" but think I will learn to adapt. Maybe.
The mini player is much better, I didn't use it much before, but do now just so I can show artwork for currently playing song. I guess I used to use multiple iTunes windows instead - but that is gone.
I used to use iTunes 10 mostly in "song" mode, with the browser and sidebar showing.
I discovered an interesting thing. As you probably know iTunes search speed is not what it should be. I accidentally found this might be due to having the "browser" window open. Close that browser (that shows genre, artist, album) and search gets much faster. In itunes 11 this is only relevant when in "songs" view. Search in other modes seems reasonably quick (for me if I get a search result in second, that is reasonable).
One thing I have not been able to replicate, and really miss, is to be able to click on the arrow next to an artist, or album, (in song view) and have just that artist/album show up in the "browser" window and song list. Does anybody know how to do this?
some background: 2010 Macpro 12GB RAM. OS 10.9.4, and Users files, and hence iTunes library, on SSD. Music media on external esata box. I have been collecting music for a long time, most of my music is from CD or digitized LP. I do have one iTunes store song. A lot of "bootleg" live recordings. I also act as the family music repository, brothers, sisters, kids, parents - and we all love music music, so, the library is quite large. I've weeded out all the outright duplicates, but still do have several copies of some albums (LP, original CD, remastered CD, you get the idea). Lets just say, I can't use iCloud syncing. iTunes was probably never designed for the way I use it. . . I've considered other players, but, can't find one that will import everything I've done, and work with iDevices. I am open to suggestions
Let me add - I used to visit the apple forums often, but the interface has changed so much it is almost difficult for an old timer to keep up.

Answer 1

One thing I have not been able to replicate, and really miss, is to be able to click on the arrow next to an artist, or album, (in song view) and have just that artist/album show up in the "browser" window and song list. Does anybody know how to do this?
D Knight D,
It is still doable!  In Songs view, hover over the Song name.  This brings up a little arrow in a circle.  Click the little arrow, and you will get a small contextual menu that includes "Go to Artist," "Go to Album," etc.  See screenshot below.