Category Archives: Band Box

Categories: Band Box, Colorado, Denver, Rite Record Productions custom pressings

Sab Florence E. on Band Box

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Sab Florence E. Band Box 45 Why Must It BeThe typically murky Band Box production enhances the strange outsider effect of this 1969 single from Florence S. Espinoza, credited on the label as Sab Florence E.

“Why Must It Be” has a gloomy guitar riff and a female chorus cooing the title. “I Need Your Love” adds harmonies over another leaden rhythm from the guitar, drums and very distant bass. Both songs are originals by Florence Espinoza, with copyright registration in October 1968.

Released on Band Box 389 during that label’s last year or two of production. This is a Rite pressing, 22737/8.

Florence S. Espinoza Patent diagram
Florence S. Espinoza’s patent diagram, from the Official Gazette of the US Patent Office, volume 855

A quick search turns up Espinoza was awarded a patent in March, 1967 for an “Acoustical Baffling Cove System: A method and apparatus for soundproofing the head space in drop ceiling construction … barricades space above the room dividing walls with a V-shaped sound baffling cove for deflecting sounds…” The patent gives his address as 1021 S. Patton Court, Denver, internet records suggest he or his family may still be living there.

An obviously creative person, I wonder if he did more in music besides this solitary release.

Sab Florence E. Band Box 45 I Need Your Love

Categories: Aurora, Band Box, Colorado, Denver, Rite Record Productions custom pressings

The Lidos “Since I Last Saw You” on Band Box

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The band’s names are on the song credits – G. Nole, G. Fick, D. Silvis and R. Saunar. I didn’t know anything about the group until J.C. commented below, which I’ll excerpt here:

The band was from Aurora, Colorado (suburb of Denver). All 4 original members attended Aurora Central High School and included bandleader Gary Nale on vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Fick on vocals and bass guitar, Dwight Silvis on vocals, keyboards, lead and rhythm guitar and Robert Sauner on drums.

The 2 songs were primarily written by Gary Nale.

I’ve read that the Lidos disc predates the British Invasion, but from the Rite pressing number, 13555, it dates to mid-late 1964. So the Invasion had started, but the Lidos weren’t really paying attention. “Since I Last Saw You” is repetitive and crude, with its cool opening bass line, pounding drums and a great shout before the guitar break, which comes earlier than usual. I think this would make a great instrumental. The ensemble vocals are a little bizarre. It ends with a fantastic drum break and repeat of that sliding bass line.

The chorus of serenaders on “Trudi” turns it into a parody of the doo-wop style. The band must have been disappointed in the absolutely crappy fidelity they got out of the Band Box studio, even though that cloudy sound is part of the charm of “Since I Last Saw You”. However, I do like the intense decay on the last chord of “Trudi” – so, you have one reason to take a listen to it.

Anyone have a photo of the Lidos?

Vicky Morosan started Columbine Records in Denver Colorado, changing the name to Band Box Records when Columbia objected. After starting on East Sixth, she moved locations to 220 S. Broadway. Releases started with drummer Ronnie Kae’s “Boom Boom” in the late ’50s and continued into the late ’60s, totaling almost 200 singles altogether.

For more info on Band Box check out this article from the Denver Post on the documentary Gears, Grease and Guitars, as well as Rockin’ Country Style, and this extended, though partly incorrect list of releases (the Lidos are not listed and #359 is attributed to “The Royals and The Shades”).