Fans report up to five tracks missing from vinyl and CD editions of Beyoncé’s latest album, Cowboy Carter, sparking frustration and calls for action

Beyoncé’s fans were left puzzled and disheartened as they discovered that several tracks present in the digital version of her latest album, “Cowboy Carter,” were conspicuously absent from its physical vinyl and CD editions. The album, which marks Beyoncé’s eighth studio venture and the second part of a trilogy that commenced with “Renaissance” in 2022, was eagerly awaited by fans who pre-ordered the physical editions only to find their excitement dampened upon delivery.

Reports emerged over the weekend that five songs— “Flamenco,” “Oh Louisiana,” “The Linda Martell Show,” “Spaghetti,” and the critically acclaimed “Ya Ya”—were missing from the vinyl version. The CD version, on the other hand, included all but these five tracks, with “Flamenco” being the exception. The absence of these tracks from the physical editions was not immediately explained, leaving fans to voice their discontent and confusion on various platforms, including TikTok, Reddit, and Beyoncé’s official online store’s Instagram feed.

Many fans expressed particular disappointment over the exclusion of “Ya Ya,” a track the Guardian hailed as a “fantastic early psychedelic soul-influenced stomp.” The discontent led to a flurry of comments on social media, with fans demanding explanations, refunds, or discounts on the $40 vinyl edition.

Speculation among fans suggests that the discrepancy between the digital and physical releases may be due to late changes and additions to the album by Beyoncé, which could not be reflected in the vinyl and CD versions due to their longer production lead times. This theory is supported by an anomaly on the spine of the physical copies, which lists the album title as “Act II – Beyincé – Beyoncé,” hinting at a possible initial title of “Beyincé”—a nod to the musician’s ancestral surname.

Beyoncé is known for her meticulous attention to detail and has previously adjusted albums post-release, as seen with “Renaissance” where certain interpolations and lyrics were removed following controversy.

As fans continue to seek clarity and resolutions to their concerns, Guardian Australia has reached out to Sony Music for comment, hoping to shed light on the issue. Meanwhile, the Beyoncé fan community remains abuzz, reflecting on the broader implications of album releases in the digital age and the unique challenges faced by artists and fans alike in maintaining the integrity of physical music formats.