mysql: sort before group

[jerx]

I wanted to modify a mysql query, which displays the latest album pictures. Since many users upload many pictures at once, this would only show pictures from one user/album. Therefore I added a group query to the statement, but this does not show the latest updates any more.

This does not work:

$lpictures = $db->query_read("
  SELECT albumpicture.*, album.*, user.username, user.usergroupid,
  IF(displaygroupid=0, user.usergroupid, displaygroupid) AS displaygroupid 
  FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "albumpicture AS albumpicture
  LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "album AS album ON(album.albumid = albumpicture.albumid)
  LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "user AS user ON(user.userid = album.userid)
  WHERE album.state = 'public' 
  GROUP BY album.userid
  ORDER BY $orderby DESC LIMIT 0, $tot  
  ");

Does anyone know how you can first sort the data and then group it?

Thank you!