diff --git a/moe/library/track.py b/moe/library/track.py
index f0ea3159..5b978abc 100644
--- a/moe/library/track.py
+++ b/moe/library/track.py
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ def read_custom_tags(
     album_fields["label"] = audio_file.label
     album_fields["media"] = audio_file.media
     album_fields["original_date"] = audio_file.original_date
-    album_fields["path"] = track_path.parent
     album_fields["title"] = audio_file.album
     album_fields["track_total"] = audio_file.tracktotal
 
@@ -130,7 +129,6 @@ def read_custom_tags(
     track_fields["disc"] = audio_file.disc
     if audio_file.genres is not None:
         track_fields["genres"] = set(audio_file.genres)
-    track_fields["path"] = track_path
     track_fields["title"] = audio_file.title
     track_fields["track_num"] = audio_file.track
 
@@ -431,6 +429,7 @@ def from_file(cls: type[T], track_path: Path, album: Optional[Album] = None) ->
 
         Raises:
             TrackError: Given ``path`` does not correspond to a track file.
+            ValueError: Track is missing required fields.
         """
         log.debug(f"Creating track from path. [path={track_path}, {album=}]")
 
@@ -447,21 +446,46 @@ def from_file(cls: type[T], track_path: Path, album: Optional[Album] = None) ->
         config.CONFIG.pm.hook.read_custom_tags(
             track_path=track_path, album_fields=album_fields, track_fields=track_fields
         )
+
+        title = track_fields.pop("title")
+        track_num = track_fields.pop("track_num")
+
+        album_artist = album_fields.pop("artist")
+        album_title = album_fields.pop("title")
+        date = album_fields.pop("date")
+        disc_total = album_fields.pop("disc_total") or 1
+
+        missing_reqd_fields = []
+        if not title:
+            missing_reqd_fields.append("title")
+        if not track_num:
+            missing_reqd_fields.append("track_num")
+        if not album_artist and not album:
+            missing_reqd_fields.append("album_artist")
+        if not album_title and not album:
+            missing_reqd_fields.append("album_title")
+        if not date and not album:
+            missing_reqd_fields.append("date")
+        if missing_reqd_fields:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Track is missing required fields. [{missing_reqd_fields=!r}]"
+            )
+
         if not album:
             album = Album(
-                path=album_fields.pop("path"),
-                artist=album_fields.pop("artist"),
-                title=album_fields.pop("title"),
-                date=album_fields.pop("date"),
-                disc_total=album_fields.pop("disc_total"),
+                path=track_path.parent,
+                artist=album_artist,
+                title=album_title,
+                date=date,
+                disc_total=disc_total,
                 **album_fields,
             )
 
         return cls(
             album=album,
-            path=track_fields.pop("path"),
-            title=track_fields.pop("title"),
-            track_num=track_fields.pop("track_num"),
+            path=track_path,
+            title=title,
+            track_num=track_num,
             **track_fields,
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/library/test_track.py b/tests/library/test_track.py
index ec56b097..7f5cf91e 100644
--- a/tests/library/test_track.py
+++ b/tests/library/test_track.py
@@ -174,6 +174,66 @@ def test_read_track_fields(self, tmp_config):
 
         assert new_track.title == "custom track title"
 
+    def test_missing_artist(self, tmp_config):
+        """Raise ValueError if track is missing both an artist and albumartist."""
+        tmp_config()
+        track = track_factory(exists=True)
+        track.album_obj.artist = None
+        track.artist = None
+        moe_write.write_tags(track)
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="missing"):
+            Track.from_file(track.path)
+
+    def test_missing_album_title(self, tmp_config):
+        """Raise ValueError if track is missing the album title."""
+        tmp_config()
+        track = track_factory(exists=True)
+        track.album_obj.title = None
+        moe_write.write_tags(track)
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="missing"):
+            Track.from_file(track.path)
+
+    def test_missing_date(self, tmp_config):
+        """Raise ValueError if track is missing the date."""
+        tmp_config()
+        track = track_factory(exists=True)
+        track.album_obj.date = None
+        moe_write.write_tags(track)
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="missing"):
+            Track.from_file(track.path)
+
+    def test_missing_title(self, tmp_config):
+        """Raise ValueError if track is missing the title."""
+        tmp_config()
+        track = track_factory(exists=True)
+        track.title = None
+        moe_write.write_tags(track)
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="missing"):
+            Track.from_file(track.path)
+
+    def test_missing_track_num(self, tmp_config):
+        """Raise ValueError if track is missing the track number."""
+        tmp_config()
+        track = track_factory(exists=True)
+        track.track_num = None
+        moe_write.write_tags(track)
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="missing"):
+            Track.from_file(track.path)
+
+    def test_missing_disc_total(self, tmp_config):
+        """Use the default disc total if missing from tags."""
+        tmp_config()
+        track = track_factory(exists=True)
+        track.album_obj.disc_total = None
+        moe_write.write_tags(track)
+
+        Track.from_file(track.path).album_obj.disc_total = 1
+
 
 class TestEquality:
     """Test equality of tracks."""