The 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.
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.
This is my grandpa he actually passed away on the tenth but it’s so awesome seeing people recognize his work!
Hey Lex – please shoot me an email at michaelnagus@gmail.com I would love to learn more about your grandpa. I live outside of Boulder and collect records from the 60s and 70s, and this is one of my favorite local records. Thanks, – Michael
Lex, I found a copy of your grandpa’s single in a Niles, MI Goodwill store in the early 1990’s, and absolutely fell in love with it. It was unlike anything that I had heard before (or since). Couple that crazy sound with the cryptic name “Sab Florence E.”, and I was hooked. For years, I tried to find out something about the musician(s) that cut this amazing single. A few years ago, I ran across your grandpa’s name and address, and almost tried to contact him. Knowing that he’s now passed, I wish that I had. I hope that you get to see this comment and know that it is still one of my favorite singles to this day. If you see this, and feel like responding, my email is rhapner66@gmail.com. I hope I get to hear from you. Your grandpa is a legend to me.