diff --git a/doc/config b/doc/config
index bcef80e7..db914f77 100644
--- a/doc/config
+++ b/doc/config
@@ -208,12 +208,21 @@
 ## - r - column will be right aligned
 ## - E - if tag is empty, empty tag marker won't be displayed
 ##
-## You can also give a column custom name by putting it after
-## attributes, separated with character ':', e.g. {lr:Length}
-## gives you right aligned column of lengths named "Length".
+## You can also:
+##
+## - give a column custom name by putting it after attributes,
+##   separated with character ':', e.g. {lr:Length} gives you
+##   right aligned column of lengths named "Length".
+##
+## - define sequence of tags, that have to be displayed in case
+##   predecessor is empty in a way similar to the one in classic
+##   song format, i.e. using '|' character, e.g. {a|c|p:Owner}
+##   creates column named "Owner" that tries to display artist
+##   tag and then composer and performer if previous ones are
+##   not available.
 ##
 #
-#song_columns_list_format = "(7f)[green]{l} (25)[cyan]{a} (40)[]{t} (30)[red]{b}"
+#song_columns_list_format = "(7f)[green]{l} (25)[cyan]{a} (40)[]{t|f} (30)[red]{b}"
 #
 ##### various settings #####
 #
diff --git a/src/display.cpp b/src/display.cpp
index c934857c..8dcc6076 100644
--- a/src/display.cpp
+++ b/src/display.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ std::string Display::Columns()
 	if (Config.columns.empty())
 		return "";
 	
-	std::basic_string<my_char_t> result, tag;
+	std::basic_string<my_char_t> result;
 	size_t where = 0;
 	int width;
 	
@@ -46,57 +46,63 @@ std::string Display::Columns()
 		else
 			width = it->width*(it->fixed ? 1 : COLS/100.0);
 		
-		if (it->name.empty())
+		std::basic_string<my_char_t> tag;
+		if (it->type.length() >= 1 && it->name.empty())
 		{
-			switch (it->type)
+			for (size_t j = 0; j < it->type.length(); ++j)
 			{
-				case 'l':
-					tag = U("Time");
-					break;
-				case 'f':
-					tag = U("Filename");
-					break;
-				case 'D':
-					tag = U("Directory");
-					break;
-				case 'a':
-					tag = U("Artist");
-					break;
-				case 'A':
-					tag = U("Album Artist");
-					break;
-				case 't':
-					tag = U("Title");
-					break;
-				case 'b':
-					tag = U("Album");
-					break;
-				case 'y':
-					tag = U("Year");
-					break;
-				case 'n':
-				case 'N':
-					tag = U("Track");
-					break;
-				case 'g':
-					tag = U("Genre");
-					break;
-				case 'c':
-					tag = U("Composer");
-					break;
-				case 'p':
-					tag = U("Performer");
-					break;
-				case 'd':
-					tag = U("Disc");
-					break;
-				case 'C':
-					tag = U("Comment");
-					break;
-				default:
-					tag.clear();
-					break;
+				switch (it->type[j])
+				{
+					case 'l':
+						tag += U("Time");
+						break;
+					case 'f':
+						tag += U("Filename");
+						break;
+					case 'D':
+						tag += U("Directory");
+						break;
+					case 'a':
+						tag += U("Artist");
+						break;
+					case 'A':
+						tag += U("Album Artist");
+						break;
+					case 't':
+						tag += U("Title");
+						break;
+					case 'b':
+						tag += U("Album");
+						break;
+					case 'y':
+						tag += U("Year");
+						break;
+					case 'n':
+					case 'N':
+						tag += U("Track");
+						break;
+					case 'g':
+						tag += U("Genre");
+						break;
+					case 'c':
+						tag += U("Composer");
+						break;
+					case 'p':
+						tag += U("Performer");
+						break;
+					case 'd':
+						tag += U("Disc");
+						break;
+					case 'C':
+						tag += U("Comment");
+						break;
+					default:
+						tag += U("?");
+						break;
+				}
+				tag += '/';
 			}
+			tag.resize(tag.length()-1);
 		}
 		else
 			tag = it->name;
@@ -169,63 +175,66 @@ void Display::SongsInColumns(const MPD::Song &s, void *, Menu<MPD::Song> *menu)
 		
 		MPD::Song::GetFunction get = 0;
 		
-		switch (it->type)
+		std::string tag;
+		for (size_t i = 0; i < it->type.length(); ++i)
 		{
-			case 'l':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetLength;
-				break;
-			case 'D':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetDirectory;
-				break;
-			case 'f':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetName;
-				break;
-			case 'a':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetArtist;
-				break;
-			case 'A':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetAlbumArtist;
-				break;
-			case 'b':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetAlbum;
-				break;
-			case 'y':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetDate;
-				break;
-			case 'n':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetTrackNumber;
-				break;
-			case 'N':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetTrack;
-				break;
-			case 'g':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetGenre;
-				break;
-			case 'c':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetComposer;
-				break;
-			case 'p':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetPerformer;
-				break;
-			case 'd':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetDisc;
-				break;
-			case 'C':
-				get = &MPD::Song::GetComment;
-				break;
-			case 't':
-				if (!s.GetTitle().empty())
-					get = &MPD::Song::GetTitle;
-				else
+			switch (it->type[i])
+			{
+				case 'l':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetLength;
+					break;
+				case 'D':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetDirectory;
+					break;
+				case 'f':
 					get = &MPD::Song::GetName;
-				break;
-			default:
+					break;
+				case 'a':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetArtist;
+					break;
+				case 'A':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetAlbumArtist;
+					break;
+				case 'b':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetAlbum;
+					break;
+				case 'y':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetDate;
+					break;
+				case 'n':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetTrackNumber;
+					break;
+				case 'N':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetTrack;
+					break;
+				case 'g':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetGenre;
+					break;
+				case 'c':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetComposer;
+					break;
+				case 'p':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetPerformer;
+					break;
+				case 'd':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetDisc;
+					break;
+				case 'C':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetComment;
+					break;
+				case 't':
+					get = &MPD::Song::GetTitle;
+					break;
+				default:
+					break;
+			}
+			tag = get ? s.GetTags(get) : "";
+			if (!tag.empty())
 				break;
 		}
 		if (!discard_colors && it->color != clDefault)
 			*menu << it->color;
 		whline(menu->Raw(), 32, menu->GetWidth()-where);
-		std::string tag = get ? s.GetTags(get) : "";
 		
 		// last column might need to be shrinked to make space for np/sel suffixes
 		if (it == last)
diff --git a/src/helpers.cpp b/src/helpers.cpp
index 9e1893d5..56a5a412 100644
--- a/src/helpers.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers.cpp
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ std::string GetLineValue(std::string &line, char a, char b, bool once)
 	++pos[0];
 	std::string result = pos[0] >= 0 && pos[1] >= 0 ? line.substr(pos[0], pos[1]-pos[0]) : "";
 	
-	// replace \a and \b to a and b respectively
+	// replace \a and \b with a and b respectively
 	char r1[] = "\\ ", r2[] = " ";
 	r1[1] = r2[0] = a;
 	Replace(result, r1, r2);
diff --git a/src/playlist.cpp b/src/playlist.cpp
index ebf9d9fc..8806a630 100644
--- a/src/playlist.cpp
+++ b/src/playlist.cpp
@@ -415,25 +415,7 @@ std::string Playlist::SongToString(const MPD::Song &s, void *data)
 
 std::string Playlist::SongInColumnsToString(const MPD::Song &s, void *)
 {
-	std::string result = "{";
-	for (std::vector<Column>::const_iterator it = Config.columns.begin(); it != Config.columns.end(); ++it)
-	{
-		if (it->type == 't')
-		{
-			result += "{%t}|{%f}";
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			// tags should be put in additional braces as if they are not, the
-			// tag that is not present within 'main' braces discards them all.
-			result += "{%";
-			result += it->type;
-			result += "}";
-		}
-		result += " ";
-	}
-	result += "}";
-	return s.toString(result);
+	return s.toString(Config.song_in_columns_to_string_format);
 }
 
 bool Playlist::Add(const MPD::Song &s, bool in_playlist, bool play, int position)
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index 7e23eadb..12598d24 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -1149,13 +1149,7 @@ void NcmpcppConfig::Read()
 		Column col;
 		col.color = IntoColor(GetLineValue(song_list_columns_format, '[', ']', 1));
 		std::string tag_type = GetLineValue(song_list_columns_format, '{', '}', 1);
-		if (tag_type.length() > 0) // at least tag type was specified
-			col.type = tag_type[0];
-		else
-		{
-			col.type = 0;
-			col.display_empty_tag = 0;
-		}
+		
 		col.fixed = *width.rbegin() == 'f';
 		
 		// alternative name
@@ -1166,20 +1160,51 @@ void NcmpcppConfig::Read()
 			tag_type.resize(tag_type_colon_pos);
 		}
 		
-		for (std::string::const_iterator it = tag_type.begin()+(tag_type.length() > 0); it != tag_type.end(); ++it)
+		if (!tag_type.empty())
 		{
-			switch (*it)
-			{
-				case 'r':
-					col.right_alignment = 1;
-					break;
-				case 'E':
-					col.display_empty_tag = 0;
-					break;
+			size_t i = -1;
+			
+			// extract tag types in format a|b|c etc.
+			do
+				col.type += tag_type[(++i)++]; // nice one.
+			while (tag_type[i] == '|');
+			
+			// apply attributes
+			for (; i < tag_type.length(); ++i)
+			{
+				switch (tag_type[i])
+				{
+					case 'r':
+						col.right_alignment = 1;
+						break;
+					case 'E':
+						col.display_empty_tag = 0;
+						break;
+				}
 			}
 		}
+		else // empty column
+			col.display_empty_tag = 0;
+		
 		col.width = StrToInt(width);
 		columns.push_back(col);
 	}
+	
+	// generate format for converting tags in columns to string for Playlist::SongInColumnsToString()
+	char tag[] = "{% }|";
+	song_in_columns_to_string_format = "{";
+	for (std::vector<Column>::const_iterator it = columns.begin(); it != columns.end(); ++it)
+	{
+		for (std::string::const_iterator j = it->type.begin(); j != it->type.end(); ++j)
+		{
+			tag[2] = *j;
+			song_in_columns_to_string_format += tag;
+		}
+		*song_in_columns_to_string_format.rbegin() = ' ';
+	}
+	if (song_in_columns_to_string_format.length() == 1) // only '{'
+		song_in_columns_to_string_format += '}';
+	else
+		*song_in_columns_to_string_format.rbegin() = '}';
 }
 
diff --git a/src/settings.h b/src/settings.h
index f9264f6e..bf078b88 100644
--- a/src/settings.h
+++ b/src/settings.h
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ struct Column
 	Column() : right_alignment(0), display_empty_tag(1) { }
 	
 	std::basic_string<my_char_t> name;
+	std::string type;
 	unsigned width;
 	Color color;
-	char type;
 	bool fixed;
 	bool right_alignment;
 	bool display_empty_tag;
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ struct NcmpcppConfig
 	std::string song_window_title_format;
 	std::string song_library_format;
 	std::string tag_editor_album_format;
+	std::string song_in_columns_to_string_format;
 	std::string external_editor;
 	std::string system_encoding;
 	std::string execute_on_song_change;