Metal Sludge — Path Of Choices…

Back in 1997 after Tuff had been over for a few years I decided I wanted to make a solo record.

I did… and released “Who The Hell Am I?” in early 1998.

I took a bunch of random musical ideas, lyrics and worked with Michael Raphael (Jailhouse) who helped write music for and produced the record for me.

One of the songs on that release was called “Path Of Choices.”

This song was about the future… my path, what would that path be, where will I go and so on.

And if I am being honest, I wasn’t entirely sure at the time.

But I lived one day at a time, and had to make decisions about what to do or what not to do next.

Funny, even to this day and more than 20 years later, I still get the die-hard glam rock and heavy metal fans make remarks about that recording, the cover, the way I looked and some wrote it off as lame.

Coming full circle, it was 20 years later in 2018, when I released my “Best sTuff” CD which also included this track among others from my solo debut and the follow-up “Since Sixty-Six.“

Regardless of what release these songs appeared on, I have never wavered, and felt my solo recordings had depth and meaning.

At least to me they did and that is all that mattered.

Especially since at that time I was in my 30’s and life took on a different meaning to me than when I was a 21 year old kid joining a rock band in Hollywood.

Had I released a record about girls and parties, wearing leather and still bleaching my hair, I would have also been ridiculed from a different group of critics for being trapped in a time warp.

All good, I am teflon to all of that and have been so my entire life.

In short, I have never cared much about anyone’s opinion of me, be it back then, last year or even today.

I am comfortable in my own skin.

We are all given an opportunity in life to go forward.

And how you move, where you go, what you do, who you associate with and how hard you work… well, all of these choices will determine your path.

If it’s a good one or a bad one, it will absolutely help shape your future.

Even if you picked a bad path at 25 or 30, but along the way corrected yourself and moved onto a different (better) path, well… that to me is like a mid-game adjustment from a sports team.

You can be down but with the right changes… in the end, you can still win at the game of life.

What happens from those decisions all of us make  – will determine each day’s outcome, each week, and over time, the months and years that follow.

I am happy on my path, and although there have been some bumps in the road, I know what’s right and wrong.

I am winning at life, I am sure of it.

And, I don’t take it for granted either.

It’s not always easy, and hard work is absolutely required.

I have persevered and done so with honesty and determination.

I chose the right path and will continue on it as long as I am allowed.

What is your path?

Where is your path taking you?

How can you make your path better?

And to be clear, no… this is not a religious message in any way.

This is about life, about living and about doing… and doing it the right way.

Thanks for reading and if you have a moment, please listen to my song below.

Let’s all Live Life and Learn – Stevie Rachelle

“Path Of Choices”

One world, a blue sky
One God who watches through his eyes
Each day, we face tomorrow.
We work, we pray
We change each and every way
Be strong, good things will come along.

Life is just an endless journey
A road that often turns,
So let’s all live life and learn
We’re always searching for answers.

We’re born, we’re free
We have the opportunity,
Never underestimate a friendly smile.
It’s our time, and our voice
We have to make, a simple choice,
It never hurts to stop and think a while.
About the Path of Choices.

What’s next, who’s who
They’ll be a challenge for me and you,
We’ll find, what we’ve been looking for.
One mind, with one soul
Sometimes, we may lose control,
Have faith, good things will come to you.

Life is just an endless journey
A road that often turns.
So let’s all live life and learn
We’re always searching for answers.

We’re born, we’re free
We have the opportunity,
Never underestimate a friendly smile.
It’s our time, and our voice
We have to make, that simple choice,
It never hurts to stop and think a while.
About the Path of Choices