Switchboard Susan

{{short description|1979 Nick Lowe song}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Switch Board Susan

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Nick Lowe

| album = Labour of Lust

| B-side = Basing Street

| released = October 1979

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Rock music

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=46}}

| label = Columbia

| writer = Mickey Jupp

| producer = Nick Lowe

| prev_title = Cruel to Be Kind

| prev_year = 1979

| next_title = Stick It Where the Sun Don't Shine

| next_year = 1982

}}

"Switchboard Susan" is a song written by Mickey Jupp{{cite web|url=http://www.repertoirerecords.com/artists/mickey-jupp/long-distance-romancer/ |title=Mickey Jupp – Long Distance Romancer |publisher=Repertoire Records |date=2014-06-20 |accessdate=2016-10-15}} and recorded by Nick Lowe for his 1979 album, Labour of Lust. The song was produced by Lowe.{{cite web|title=Nick Lowe, "Switch Board Susan" Single Release |url=http://www.45cat.com/record/111131us |accessdate=December 2, 2016}}

Jupp originally wrote the song for his album Juppanese, which Lowe was producing. Jupp disliked the backing track that Lowe's band Rockpile produced for the song, calling it "shit from top to bottom" according to Lowe.{{Cite web |last=Mastropolo |first=Frank |title=Top 11 New Wave Songs & Artists |url=https://rockcellarmagazine.com/top-11-new-wave-songs-artists/ |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Rock Cellar Magazine}} Lowe received Jupp's permission to take the song for himself. He recalled:

{{quote|"Mickey Jupp is touched with genius but he could be a difficult and contrary man. ... I nearly had to throw myself across the tracks to stop the train and prevent Rockpile from leaving town. But "Switchboard Susan" had a cracking backing track, so I offered to buy it off Mickey and he agreed. Then I stuck my vocal on it."{{Cite book |last=Birch |first=Will |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qS99DwAAQBAJ&q=Switchboard+Susan&pg=PT414 |title=Cruel to Be Kind: The Life and Music of Nick Lowe |date=2019-08-20 |publisher=Hachette Books |isbn=978-0-306-92197-1 |language=en}}}}

"Switchboard Susan" was released as a single in North America only. The follow-up to Lowe's biggest chart hit "Cruel to Be Kind", the single reached number 81 Canada{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6912b.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - December 1, 1979}} and number 107 on the US pop chart.{{cite web|title=Nick Lowe, "Switch Board Susan" Chart Positions|url=http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Switch+Board+Susan+by+Nick+Lowe&id=52730|accessdate=December 2, 2016}}