The Wreckers

The Wreckers
The Wreckers (Michelle Branch (center), Jessica Harp (right)) performing in June 2007, just over a month before their break-up
The Wreckers (Michelle Branch (center), Jessica Harp (right)) performing in June 2007, just over a month before their break-up
Background information
OriginUnited States
GenresCountry
Years active2004–2007
LabelsMaverick/Warner Bros. Nashville
Past membersMichelle Branch
Jessica Harp

The Wreckers were an American country music duo formed in 2005 by Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp, both of whom had solo recordings before the duo's foundation. In 2006, the duo released its debut album Stand Still, Look Pretty, which produced a number one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in its lead-off single "Leave the Pieces". The album accounted for a Top Ten hit on the same chart in "My, Oh My" as well. After its release, both Branch and Harp returned to being solo singers. Harp has since had Top 40 country success of her own with the single "Boy Like Me".

Music career

Career success: Stand Still, Look Pretty

In 2005, Michelle Branch recruited her longtime friend and backing vocalist Jessica Harp on a new musical venture, incorporating elements from both Branch's pop-rock style and Harp's country style to form The Wreckers, a shortened form of "The Cass County Homewreckers," a band name idea from Branch's then husband, Teddy Landau. They were soon signed to Maverick Records.

The Wreckers' song "The Good Kind"—originally recorded by Harp—was featured on the hit teen television series One Tree Hill. They performed this song on the show on February 8, 2005. Later that month, the duo embarked on the nationwide One Tree Hill Tour alongside Gavin DeGraw, Tyler Hilton, and Bethany Joy Galeotti. Branch later expressed her dislike of going on tour without releasing an album first, and The Wreckers then attempted to release their debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty.

The album was finally released in May 2006, led off by the single "Leave the Pieces", a number one country hit. It was followed by a heavy promotional radio campaign by the band which allowed it to make the top five on the country music albums chart in the United States, the top twenty on the Billboard 200, and the number one album on the United Kingdom Country Chart. This allowed them to have various live performances including one in Indianapolis, Indiana, at Monument Circle in August 2006, and on tour as Rascal Flatts's opening act during the summer of 2006, in addition to playing smaller club dates as headliners. "My, Oh My", was the second single from Stand Still, Look Pretty, and its video was filmed on the Wild West stage at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The band were nominated for "Vocal Duo of the Year" at the 40th Annual CMA Awards, but lost to Brooks & Dunn. In December 2006, they were nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" for "Leave the Pieces." Moreover, the band also released a cover of the country song "Strawberry Wine", originally sung by Deana Carter, and performed it live on the 2006 CMA Awards.

Split-up and recording solo albums

In February 2008, it was announced the group had split to focus on their solo careers. The duo has since stated that their next recording projects will be solo albums. Jessica Harp has stated that they will indeed continue The Wreckers as a side project, but solo albums are what "feels right" for now. Harp released her first solo single, "Boy Like Me" from her debut album A Woman Needs, in March 2009. The single was a Top 30 hit on the charts, and was followed by the album's title-track, which reached No. 56 after a short chart run. On March 16, 2010, Harp's album was digitally-released following an announcement that she would retire from her recording career to focus on songwriting. Meanwhile, Branch released the single "Sooner or Later" in August 2009 and released her 6-song EP Everything Comes and Goes on September 14, 2010.

Discography

The Wreckers discography
Studio albums1
Live albums1
Video albums1
Music videos4
Singles5

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
Certifications
(sales threshold)
US Country
US
Sales
Stand Still, Look Pretty 4 14 US: 856,000

Live albums

Title Album details
Way Back Home: Live at New York City
  • Release date: December 4, 2007
  • Label: Maverick/Warner Bros. Records
  • Formats: CD, music download

Singles

As lead artist

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Sales Album
US Country
US
US
Pop

US
Adult

AUS
CAN Country
2006 "Leave the Pieces" 1 34 54 19 73 1
  • RIAA: Gold
  • US: 1,155,000
Stand Still, Look Pretty
"My, Oh My" 9 87 6
2007 "Tennessee" 33
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

As featured artist

Year Single Artist Peak chart positions Album
US
US
Pop

US
AC

US
Adult

CAN
AC

CAN
HAC

2005 "I'm Feeling You" Santana 55 53 5 6 5 6 All That I Am
Notes
  1. ^ Song was credited as Santana with Michelle Branch and The Wreckers.

Other charted songs

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US Bub.
2005 "The Good Kind" 15 Stand Stand Still, Look Pretty

Music videos

Year Video Director
2005 "I'm Feeling You" (with Santana)
2006 "Leave the Pieces" Trey Fanjoy
"My, Oh My" Paul Boyd
2007 "Tennessee"

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Category Result
2006 Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
Academy of Country Music Top New Vocal Duo or Group Nominated
Academy of Country Music Top Vocal Duo Nominated
2007 Grammy Awards Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — ("Leave the Pieces" ) Nominated
Music Row Awards Major Label Breakout Artist of the Year Won
R&R Readers' Poll Best New Performer Won
Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
Academy of Country Music Top New Vocal Duo or Group Nominated
2008 Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated

This page was last updated at 2023-10-31 01:21 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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