"Colorado" is the 41st studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Neil Young, released on October 25, 2019. This album marks his first collaboration with Crazy Horse since 2012. It features singles "Milky Way" and "Rainbow of Colors," and is dedicated to Elliot Roberts, Young's manager since 1967, who passed away in June 2019. Notably, this album is the first to include Nils Lofgren as a member of Crazy Horse since 1971.
Colorado is Young's first project with Crazy Horse since Psychedelic Pill in 2012. After a European tour in 2014, guitarist Frank "Poncho" Sampedro retired due to arthritis, leading the band to take a hiatus. During this time, Young recorded three albums with Lukas and Micah Nelson's Promise of the Real. Upon reuniting with Crazy Horse for the album, he enlisted longtime collaborator Nils Lofgren for guitar duties. Young recorded Colorado near his new home in Telluride, Colorado, following the loss of his Malibu home to fire.
Many lyrics on the album address social issues. Young describes "Rainbow of Colors" as a commentary on the diversity of America and the threats posed by white supremacy. He emphasizes the need for unity in the face of climate change, urging people to recognize their shared struggles. Similarly, "Help Me Lose My Mind" explores themes of post-traumatic stress disorder, while "Green Is Blue" critiques the lack of awareness surrounding climate change.
The recording took place at Studio in the Clouds over an 11-day period in April 2019, with the band utilizing oxygen to cope with the high altitude. Young noted the intense energy required for the recording process, recalling that the experience was both challenging and special. He also produced a documentary titled "Mountaintop" about the recording sessions. Additionally, three songs on the album were recorded live during the previous winter in Minneapolis and Winnipeg before being overdubbed in the studio. Young expressed a desire to capture the spontaneity of live performance, highlighting the unique energy that arises from those moments.
