''The Blue Hysteria'' is a 1996 album by

Rheostatics Rheostatics are a Canadian indie rock band. They were formed in 1978, and actively performed from 1980 until disbanding in 2007. After a number of reunion performances at special events, Rheostatics reformed in late 2016, introducing new songs a ...

. "Bad Time to Be Poor", a protest song about life in

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during the government of

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, was the album's first single. The band also contributed this song to the compilation album '' GASCD'' in 2001 to support

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and

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groups in protesting the

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. To support the album, the band were invited on tour as the opening act for

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. At the beginning of the Hip's 1997 live album '' Live Between Us'', singer

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acknowledges the Rheostatics, and towards the end of the album, Downie works a verse from "Bad Time to Be Poor" into "

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". The 1997 Rheostatics album '' Double Live'' also partially documents the band's tour with the Hip. "Bad Time to Be Poor" was covered by

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on the 2007 Rheostatics tribute album ''

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''. Their version reached #1 on

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's ''

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'' chart.

Track listing

All songs are credited to the full band. #"All the Same Eyes" – 3:53 #"Motorino" – 4:01 #"Something the Committee Thought You Should Hear" – 0:34 #"Fat" – 6:56 #"To Catch a Thief" – 0:11 #"Bad Time to Be Poor" – 4:56 #"Sweet, Rich, Beautiful, Mine" – 4:03 #"Four Little Songs" – 5:52 #"An Offer" – 4:33 #"Never Forget" – 4:54 #"The Idiot" – 3:38 #"Connecting Flights" – 2:46 #"Feed Yourself" – 6:18 #"The 'You Are Very Star' Journey" – 1:12 #"A Midwinter Night's Dream" – 8:22 #"My First Rock Concert" (hidden track) – 4:09 {{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Hysteria, The 1996 albums Rheostatics albums