About Sam Rapallo
Having spent two decades as a digital media specialist and archivist for Led Zeppelin, Sam Rapallo is no stranger to the power of a raw riff and a vintage groove. After the 2022 archival success of "Crossroads Sessions", a time-capsule of 90s blues rock instrumental demos — Rapallo has returned to the tapes to finish what he started. His latest project, ASTRAL BELLE (2025), is the ultimate bridge between past and present. By layering new gritty, soulful vocals over original vintage 90s instrumentals, Rapallo fully realizes compositions that have been waiting in the dark for thirty years. This is hard-hitting blues-rock with a classic soul and a modern edge.
ASTRAL BELLE
Released: December 9, 2025
Recorded: July 1994 - April 1995
Crossroads Studio, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Astral Belle is a unique sonic fusion thirty years in the making. Releasing in December 2025, this project sees Sam Rapallo revisiting his unfinished 1990s studio tapes. By layering fresh vocals over vintage blues and rock instrumentals, the album bridges the gap between eras, finally giving a voice to songs that waited decades to be heard. (Vocals added in 2025 - Astral Belle)
CROSSROADS SESSIONS
Released: July 2022
Recorded: July 1994 - April 1995
Crossroads Studio, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
Sam Rapallo explores his blues and classic rock roots on "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mixes)", a 2022 collection of instrumental mixes originally recorded as demos in the early 1990s. While the project was initially retired in 1995, left unfinished without a permanent vocalist, the tracks offer a glimpse into his musical origins.
Tracklist and Song Info:
02. This Little Heart
(a.k.a. Crying Blues)
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Vocals added in 2025 (Astral Belle)
- Released on: Astral Belle (2025)
01. CANDY
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Bass: Lou Lofaso
- Drums: Dom Conti
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
- Released on: "Astral Belle (Vocals added in 2025)"
02. GOODBYE
(Instrumental Mix)
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Drums: Kelly Mauricette
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
03. CHUNK
(Instrumental Mix)
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitar: Sam Rapallo
- Bass: Lou Lofaso
- Drums: Kelly Mauricette
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
04. Groove Jam
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Bass: Lou Lofaso
- Drums: Dom Conti
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
- Released on: "Astral Belle (Vocals added in 2025)"
05. NC TELE
(Instrumental Mix)
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Drums: Dom Conti
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
06. Tomorrow
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Bass: Lou Lofaso
- Drums: Dom Conti
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
- Released on: "Astral Belle (Vocals added in 2025)"
07. Poison
(Instrumental Mix)
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Bass: Lou Lofaso
- Drums: Dom Conti
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
08. Again (Version 2)
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Bass: Lou Lofaso
- Drums: Dom Conti
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
- Released on: "Astral Belle (Vocals added in 2025)"
09. Blue Fever
- Music by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Drums: Joe Iannuzi
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
- Released on: "Astral Belle (Vocals added in 2025)"
10. Who Cares (Version 2)
- Written by Sam Rapallo
- Guitars: Sam Rapallo
- Bass: Lou Lofaso
- Drums: Dom Conti
- Released on: "Crossroads Sessions (Instrumental Mix) 2022"
- Released on: "Astral Belle (Vocals added in 2025)"
Available on major streaming platforms
(Dec. 9, 2025)
