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Big Wreck was formed in 1994 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Canadian musician Ian Thornley and Americans Brian Doherty, Dave Henning, and Forrest Williams. The band initially gained attention with their 1997 debut album, In Loving Memory Of…, which featured the hit single “The Oaf.” Their music combines elements of hard rock, grunge, and progressive rock.
Despite early success and critical acclaim, Big Wreck disbanded in 2002 after the release of their second album, The Pleasure and the Greed. Ian Thornley went on to form a new band, Thornley, which also enjoyed considerable success in Canada. In 2010, Big Wreck reunited with Ian Thornley and Brian Doherty leading the lineup, releasing several more albums, including Albatross (2012) and Ghosts (2014). Big Wreck has released eight studio albums through The Rest of the Story (2025), along with several EP releases.
BIG WRECK STUDIO ALBUMS
In Loving Memory Of… (1997)
Released: October 7, 1997
In Loving Memory Of… is the debut studio album by Big Wreck, showcasing their blend of hard rock and blues influences. Recorded at Presence Studios in Toronto, Ontario, the album features Ian Thornley on lead vocals and guitars, Dave Henning on bass, Forrest Williams on drums, and Brian Doherty on guitars. The production was led by Matt DeMatteo and the band, with Chris Wardman producing “Fall Through the Cracks” and “Overemphasizing.” Upon its release, the album achieved significant success in Canada, including producing the hit single “The Oaf,” which helped the band gain notable recognition.
CD Track Listings:
- “The Oaf”
- “That Song”
- “Look What I Found”
- “Blown Wide Open”
- “How Would You Know”
- “Oh My”
- “Under the Lighthouse”
- “Fall Through the Cracks”
- “Waste”
- “By the Way”
- “Between You and I”
- “Prayer”
- “Overemphasizing”
The Pleasure and the Greed (2001)
Released: June 5, 2001
The Pleasure and the Greed is Big Wreck’s second studio album. The band continued with its original lineup, and the album was produced by Dave Jerden, John Whynot, and Ian Thornley.
CD Track Listings:
- “Inhale”
- “Undersold”
- “Knee Deep”
- “Everything Is Fine”
- “All By Design”
- “Mistake”
- “Ladylike”
- “The Pleasure and the Greed”
- “No Fault”
- “Breakthrough”
- “Ease My Mind”
- “Broken Hands”
- “Head in the Girl”
- “All Our Days Are Numbered”
- “West Virginia”
- “Defined by What We Steal”
Albatross (2012)
Released: March 6, 2012
Albatross marked Big Wreck’s return after a long hiatus, reintroducing them to the music scene with a blend of old influences and new energy. It featured Ian Thornley on lead vocals and guitar, Brian Doherty on guitar, Paulo Neta on guitar, Dave McMillan on bass, and Christopher Henry on drums. The production was handled by Ian Thornley, Eric Ratz, and Nick Raskulinecz. Upon its release, Albatross reached No. 5 on the Canadian Albums Chart.
CD Track Listings:
- “Head Together”
- “A Million Days”
- “Wolves”
- “Albatross”
- “Glass Room”
- “All Is Fair”
- “Control”
- “Rest of the World”
- “You Caught My Eye”
- “Do What You Will”
- “Time”
Ghosts (2014)
Released: June 10, 2014
Ghosts is Big Wreck’s fourth studio album. Recorded at Revolution Recording and Vespa Studios in Toronto, the album continued the band’s progressive and hard-rock direction and reached No. 5 on the Canadian Albums Chart. It was nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the 2015 Juno Awards.
CD Track Listings:
- “A Place to Call Home”
- “I Digress”
- “Ghosts”
- “My Life”
- “Hey Mama”
- “Diamonds”
- “Friends”
- “Still Here”
- “Break”
- “Off and Running”
- “Come What May”
- “War Baby”
- “A Place to Call Home (Reprise)”
Grace Street (2017)
Released: February 3, 2017
Recorded at The Orange Lounge, The Farm Studios, and Noble Street Studios, Grace Street features some of the most intricate and expansive compositions in Big Wreck’s catalog. Produced by Ian Thornley and Garth Richardson, the album mixes elements of rock, blues, and progressive music, showcasing the band’s versatility and Ian Thornley’s dynamic vocal and guitar performances.
CD Track Listings:
- “It Comes as No Surprise”
- “One Good Piece of Me”
- “Tomorrow Down”
- “You Don’t Even Know”
- “Useless”
- “A Speedy Recovery”
- “Motionless”
- “Digging In”
- “The Receiving End”
- “Floodgates”
- “The Arborist”
- “Skybunk Marché”
- “All My Fears on You”
…But for the Sun (2019)
Released: August 30, 2019
…But for the Sun sees Big Wreck returning to their roots with a focus on guitar-driven rock. Recorded at Noble Street Studios, Vespa Studios, and The Vanilla Room, this album highlights Ian Thornley’s skills as a guitarist and vocalist, with powerful tracks that blend the intensity of rock with melodic sensibilities.
CD Track Listings:
- “Voices”
- “Locomotive”
- “In My Head”
- “So Clear”
- “Follow Me”
- “Too Far Gone”
- “Give Us a Smile”
- “Alibi”
- “Help Is on the Way”
- “Found My Place”
- “One More Chance”
- “The Fly and the Bowl”
7 (2023)
Released: 2023
7, the seventh studio album by Big Wreck, brings together the three five-song EPs 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3. Recorded in 2020 and 2021, the album features Ian Thornley, Dave McMillan, Chris Caddell, and Sekou Lumumba. Ian Thornley and Eric Ratz produced the album.
CD Track Listings:
- “If All Else Fails”
- “Fields”
- “High on the Hog”
- “Bombs Away”
- “Beano”
- “Better Off”
- “Rye Bread”
- “Spit It Out”
- “Fear & Cowardice”
- “The House”
- “Full Display”
- “Fall Over”
- “Melody & Sound”
- “Hangers On”
- “Haunted”
The Rest of the Story (2025)
Released: October 24, 2025
The Rest of the Story is Big Wreck’s eighth studio album. The eleven-song record grew out of the same 2023 recording sessions that produced the Pages EP and was released through Sonic Unyon Records.
CD Track Listings:
- “Staff Party”
- “Holy Roller”
- “Believer”
- “Short Bangs”
- “Out of Range”
- “Around”
- “Laws of Man”
- “Dog with a Gun”
- “Escaping in Place”
- “Labour Day”
- “Hills”
BIG WRECK EPs
Bag of Tricks (2013)
Released: June 25, 2013
Bag of Tricks is a seven-track release built primarily from live recordings from the Albatross era, along with Big Wreck’s cover of The Cars’ “Good Times Roll.”
Track Listings:
- “The Oaf (Live)”
- “So Far So Good / Wolves (Live)”
- “Albatross (Live)”
- “Glass Room (Live)”
- “All Is Fair (Live)”
- “Control (Live)”
- “Good Times Roll”
Big Wreck 7.1 (2021)
Released: November 19, 2021
Big Wreck 7.1 is the first five-song installment of the material that was later assembled as the full-length album 7.
Track Listings:
- “If All Else Fails”
- “Fields”
- “High on the Hog”
- “Bombs Away”
- “Beano”
Big Wreck 7.2 (2022)
Released: June 17, 2022
Big Wreck 7.2 is the second five-song installment of the 7 project.
Track Listings:
- “Better Off”
- “Rye Bread”
- “Spit It Out”
- “Fear & Cowardice”
- “The House”
Big Wreck 7.3 (2023)
Released: March 24, 2023
Big Wreck 7.3 completed the three-part EP sequence that forms the full-length 7 album.
Track Listings:
- “Full Display”
- “Fall Over”
- “Melody & Sound”
- “Hangers On”
- “Haunted”
Pages (2023)
Released: November 24, 2023
Pages is a six-song EP recorded during sessions that ultimately produced eighteen songs. The remaining material from those sessions later became the 2025 studio album The Rest of the Story.
Track Listings:
- “In Fair Light”
- “Bail Out”
- “Summerlong”
- “Weightless”
- “White Lies”
- “Bird of Paradise”
Updated August 25, 2026.
Complete List Of Big Wreck Albums And Songs article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026
