Colorado City, TX, has deep roots in the history of the American West, beginning as a ranger camp in 1877. As cattlemen flocked to the area, it quickly became a vital center for the cattle industry, earning the moniker “The Mother City of West Texas.” The arrival of the Texas & Pacific Railway in 1881 marked a turning point for the town. It was formally organized the following year, its economy bolstered by cattle, cotton and a soon-burgeoning oil industry. A 1920s oil boom further elevated Colorado City’s economic status, marking the beginning of its now long-standing importance in the oil industry. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll explore how Colorado City continues to serve as a critical junction, facilitating the movement of crude from the prolific Permian Basin to major destinations such as Cushing, OK, and the U.S. Gulf Coast.
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The discovery of oil in the region in the early 20th century solidified Colorado City’s significance. In 1924, the West Texas Refinery Co. was established to process Mitchell County oil, which later became Col-Tex Refining under Standard Oil of California. The refinery, processing up to 12 Mb/d through the mid-20th century, was more than just an industrial facility; it was woven into the fabric of daily life in Colorado City, with its whistle setting the rhythm of the town. Although the refinery ceased operations in 1969, its legacy remains a testament to Colorado City’s role as a major oil hub, with oil and gas continuing to drive the local economy today.
Figure 1. Permian Crude Oil Pipelines. Source: RBN Crude Oil Permian
So how does Colorado City (dashed red circle in Figure 1 above) fit into the broader landscape of Permian oil takeaway capacity? Colorado City, like Wink and Crane (our previous blogs in this series on Permian oil hubs), plays an important role in crude oil egress from the prolific Permian Basin. The Permian’s easternmost crude oil hub has access to several destinations in Texas (Houston, Longview, Nederland, Wichita Falls) and beyond (Cushing and Louisiana).
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About the song
“Time to Shine” was written by Paul Rodgers and appears as the second song on Queen + Paul Rodgers’s only studio album, The Cosmos Rocks. Rodgers’s bluesy vocals and Brian May’s delay-heavy guitar musings set up the song beautifully. Personnel on the record were: Paul Rodgers (lead vocal, bass, piano), Brian May (guitar, backing vocals), and Roger Taylor (drums, percussion, backing vocals).
The Cosmos Rocks was recorded at Roger Taylor’s Priory Studio in Surrey, England, between October 2006 and August 2008. The singles “Say It’s Not True” and “C-lebrity” were released before The Cosmos Rocks was released in September 2008. The LP went to #47 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Two singles were released from the album.
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1970 by Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, backing vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, backing vocals) and John Deacon (bass). They have released 15 studio albums, 10 live albums, 16 compilation albums, two soundtrack albums, two EPs, and 73 singles. They have sold over 300 million records worldwide. They are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They were awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Original vocalist Freddie Mercury died in 1991. Original bassist John Deacon retired from the band in 1997. The band has continued with vocalist Paul Rodgers (2004-09) and Adam Lambert (2011-present). They still record and tour. Guitarist Brian May suffered a minor stroke in early September 2024 but is still able to play guitar and sing and is on the road to a complete recovery.
Paul Rodgers is an English-Canadian singer. He was the lead vocalist for Free, Bad Co, the Firm, the Law, and Queen (for close to five years). As a solo artist, he has released five studio albums, seven live albums, one EP, and three singles. He still performs occasionally and released his first solo album of original material in 24 years, Midnight Rose, in 2023.
