The Wreckers
The Wreckers (Michelle Branch at center, Jessica Harp at right) performing in June 2007
The Wreckers (Michelle Branch at center, Jessica Harp at right) performing in June 2007
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 10 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."[1] 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.[2]

Split-up and recording solo albums

In February 2008, it was announced the group had split to focus on their solo careers.[3] The duo has since stated that their next recording projects will be solo albums. Jessica Harp has stated that they will 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 six-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
[4]		 US
[5]		 Sales
Stand Still, Look Pretty 4 14 US: 856,000[6]

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
[8]		 US
[9]		 US
Pop
[10]		 US
Adult
[11]		 AUS
[12]		 CAN Country
[13]
2006 "Leave the Pieces" 1 34 54 19 73 1 Stand Still, Look Pretty
"My, Oh My" 9 87 — — — 6
2007 "Tennessee" 33 — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
Year Single Artist Peak chart positions Album
US
[9]		 US
Pop
[16]		 US
AC
[17]		 US
Adult
[11]		 CAN
AC
[18]		 CAN
HAC
[19]
2005 "I'm Feeling You"[upper-alpha 1] Santana 55 53 5 6 5 6 All That I Am
Notes
  1. ↑ Song was credited as Santana with Michelle Branch and the Wreckers.[20]

Other charted songs

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US Bub.
[21]
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[22] 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

References

  1. ↑ "FOX Facts: Complete List of Grammy Award Nominations". Associated Press. December 7, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  2. ↑ "The Wreckers ~ "Strawberry Wine"". YouTube.
  3. ↑ "The Wreckers Split". Contactmusic.com. February 1, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  4. ↑ "The Wreckers Chart History (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  5. ↑ "The Wreckers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  6. ↑ Tucker, Ken (2009-08-10). "Michelle Branch Steps Out Solo Again". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  7. ↑ "American album certifications – The Wreckers – Stand Still, Look Pretty". Recording Industry Association of America.
  8. ↑ "The Wreckers Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  9. 1 2 "The Wreckers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ "The Wreckers | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "The Wreckers Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  12. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 306.
  13. ↑ "The Wreckers Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  14. ↑ "American single certifications – The Wreckers – Leave the Pieces". Recording Industry Association of America.
  15. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (November 11, 2019). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: November 11, 2019". Rough Stock. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Santana - Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  17. ↑ "The Wreckers Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  18. ↑ Peak positions on Radio & Records Canada AC Top 30 chart: "Canada AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 24, 2006. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  19. ↑ Peak positions on Radio & Records Canada Hot AC Top 30 chart: "Canada Hot AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. October 28, 2005. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  20. ↑ "All That I Am - Santana | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  21. ↑ "The Wreckers Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  22. ↑ Awards and nominations of Michelle Branch Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
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