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.""FOX Facts: Complete List of Grammy Award Nominations". Associated Press. December 7, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2007. 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 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
Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications(sales threshold) US US Country CAN Stand Still, Look Pretty Release date: May 23, 2006 Label: Maverick Records Formats: CD, music download 14 4 91 US: 856,000 RIAA: Gold
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 US Country USPop USAdult AUS CAN Country 2005 "The Good Kind" 115 — — — — — Stand Still, Look Pretty 2006 "Leave the Pieces" 34 1 54 19 73 1 RIAA: GoldUS: 1,155,000 "My, Oh My" 87 9 — — — 6 2007 "Tennessee" — 33 — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
As featured artist Year Single Artist Peak chart positions Album US USPop USAC USAdult CANACPeak positions on Radio & Records Canada AC Top 30 chart: CANHACPeak positions on Radio & Records Canada Hot AC Top 30 chart: 2005 "I'm Feeling You" Santana 55 53 5 6 5 6 All That I Am
Notes
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 CategoryAwards and nominations of Michelle Branch Result2006Country Music AssociationVocal Duo of the Year Academy of Country MusicTop New Vocal Duo or GroupAcademy of Country MusicTop Vocal Duo 2007Grammy AwardsBest Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — ("Leave the Pieces" )Music Row AwardsMajor Label Breakout Artist of the Year R&R Readers' PollBest New Performer Country Music AssociationVocal Duo of the Year Academy of Country MusicTop New Vocal Duo or Group 2008Country Music AssociationVocal Duo of the Year
References
External links The Wreckers Jessica Harp Michelle Branch