White Courtesy Phone is an album by the American musician Angel Corpus Christi, released in 1995.[2][3] Her major label debut, it was also the first release on Jerry Moss's and Herb Alpert's Almo Sounds label.[4]

The album's first single was "Candy".[5]

Production

The album was produced by Craig Leon.[5] Alpert, Hal Blaine, and Dawn Richardson contributed to White Courtesy Phone.[2][6]

It was the last album to be recorded in Studio A at Sausalito's Record Plant before a technology rebuild.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[8]
Daily Breeze	[4]
Deseret News	[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[1]
Knoxville News Sentinel	[10]
The San Diego Union-Tribune	[11]

Trouser Press wrote: "Surrounding her carbon-dated canned vocal presence with diverse synth-draped arrangements that manage to sound simultaneously complex and rinkydink, Angel croons the elementary melodies of supremely ingenious hook-filled songs that bounce and bop in an echo of early-’80s dance-club pogo fare by Toni Basil, Lene Lovich, Martha and the Muffins, Algebra Suicide, Hilary, etc."[12] The Guardian noted Angel Corpus Christi's use of the accordion and her "deadpan delivery," writing that "sometimes it just sounds like half-hearted 'alternative' malarkey, but not often enough to spoil things."[13]

The San Diego Union-Tribune opined: "Uncomfortably mating Laurie Anderson and, yes, the Angels ... White Courtesy Phone has a few nicely campy moments but precious little inspiration."[11] The Deseret News thought that "those who dance to the doldrums of life may cherish this campy but innovative album—even though it does get monotonous after the fourth track."[9] The Daily Breeze concluded that "Christi's accordion playing works because it fits seamlessly with the band's low-fi sound without dominating it ... Leon keeps a light touch throughout, allowing the band to walk the fine line between enjoyable campiness and tackiness merely for its own sake."[4] The Knoxville News Sentinel praised Angel Corpus Christi's "magnetic charm" and "gratifying accordion."[10]

Track listing

References