History: Sacco and Vanzetti

Ennio Morricone and Joan Baez: Here's to You
and The Ballad of Sacco and Vanzetti

[purchase]

Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian-born immigrants living and working in Massachusetts in the early twentieth century. On August 23, 1927, they were sentenced to death for the murder of two bank employees during a robbery seven years earlier. The trial was hugely controversial, as the judge and jury seemed to be blatantly biased against the immigrants (who were also politically aligned with Anarchism). Their guilt was questionable, though to this day never proven one way or another. The trial sparked massive protests around the country and attracted worldwide press. You can read more about it here, or check out the film from which these songs come—scored by Ennio Morricone with guest vocals by Joan Baez on two tracks. Some of you may recognize "Here's to You" from the Life Aquatic soundtrack as well.