Holy Grail (Hunters & Collectors song)

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"Holy Grail"
H&C-HolyGrail.jpg
Single by Hunters & Collectors
from the album Cut
ReleasedMarch 1993 (1993-03)
Recorded1991–92
Festival Studios, Sydney
Genre Pub rock
Length3:50
Label Mushroom
Songwriter(s) Mark Seymour, Jeremy Smith, Doug Falconer, John Archer, Barry Palmer, Michael Waters, Robert Miles, John Howard
Producer(s) Don Gehman, Rick Will
Hunters & Collectors singles chronology
"Tears of Joy"
(1992)		"Holy Grail"
(1993)		"Imaginary Girl"
(1993)
Holy Grail
Hunters&Collectors-Holy Grail.jpg
UK release (Mushroom Records)

"Holy Grail" is a song performed by the Australian band Hunters & Collectors on their 1992 album Cut . [1] With lyrics referring to popular Holy Grail mythology, the song is an anthemic single inspired by Napoleon's march to Russia in 1812, but also referencing the Hunters and Collectors' flagging attempts to "crack" the American market.

Contents

Singer Mark Seymour said, "With the lyrics, I'd been reading a Jeanette Winterson novel, The Passion . It was a story about Napoleon's chef when he invaded Russia. The army was destroyed by the weather. It's a story about survival. It's a really powerful book and somehow I drew this analogy between the idea of this guy managing to survive this incredible ordeal and Hunters and Collectors making this excruciating record." [2]

The song has since become an Australian rules football anthem, [3] particularly with the reference to the Premiership Cup and the AFL Grand Final. Channel Ten used the song to open and close its AFL broadcasts between 2002 and 2006. Seymour performed the song as part of the AFL Grand Final's pre-match entertainment in 1998, 2002 and 2009 and half-time entertainment in 2013 and 2023. This song was used for many[ quantify ] years as the theme song of the Queensland Bulls cricket team in the quest for the Sheffield Shield, its own "Holy Grail". It was also featured as the theme song to the Australian rugby league movie Footy Legends .

In 2013 a cover version of "Holy Grail" by The Rubens appeared on the tribute album, Crucible – The Songs of Hunters & Collectors. [4]

In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Holy Grail" was ranked number 30. [5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mark Seymour, Jeremy Smith, Doug Falconer, John Archer, Barry Palmer, Michael Waters, Robert Miles, John Howard [6] [7]

No.TitleLength
1."Holy Grail"3:50
2."True Tears of Joy" (live & acoustic)3:43
3."Where Do You Go?" (live & acoustic)3:14
4."When the River Runs Dry" (live & acoustic)3:49
5."Holy Grail" (live & acoustic)3:21
Total length:17:57

All tracks are written by Mark Seymour, Jeremy Smith, Doug Falconer, John Archer, Barry Palmer, Michael Waters, Robert Miles, John Howard [6]

UK single (18 April 1994)
No.TitleLength
1."Holy Grail"3:52
2."Head Above Water"4:24
3."True Tears of Joy"4:35
4."Grindstone"3:47
Total length:16:38

Personnel

Credited to: [1]

Hunters & Collectors members
Recording details

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [8] 20
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [9] 25

Related Research Articles

Hunters & Collectors are an Australian rock band formed in 1981. Fronted by founding mainstay, singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Seymour, they developed a blend of pub rock and art-funk. Other mainstays are John Archer on bass guitar, Doug Falconer on drums and percussion. Soon after forming they were joined by Jack Howard on trumpet and keyboards, Jeremy Smith on French horn, guitars and keyboards, and Michael Waters on trombone and keyboards. Also acknowledged as a founder was engineer and art designer Robert Miles. Joining in 1988, Barry Palmer, on lead guitar, remained until they disbanded in 1998. The group reformed in 2013 with the 1998 line-up.

<i>Human Frailty</i> 1986 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Human Frailty is the fourth studio album by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors, which was released on 7 April 1986. It was a commercial and critical success. The album peaked at No. 10 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 5 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. Four singles were issued from the album, "Say Goodbye", which reached No. 24 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart; "Throw Your Arms Around Me", No. 49; "Everything's on Fire", No. 78; and "Is There Anybody in There", which did not chart in Australia but did reach No. 41 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

<i>Ghost Nation</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Ghost Nation is the sixth studio album by Australian rock band, Hunters & Collectors. It was co-produced by the band with Clive Martin and issued on White/Mushroom Records on 27 November 1989. It reached No. 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart, No. 29 in New Zealand and No. 31 in Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Seymour</span> Australian musician (born 1956)

Mark Jeremy Seymour is an Australian musician and vocalist. He was the frontman and songwriter of rock band Hunters & Collectors from 1981 until 1998. Seymour has carved a solo career, releasing his debut solo album in 1997 and winning an ARIA Award in 2001 for One Eyed Man in the category of Best Adult Contemporary Album.

<i>Cut</i> (Hunters and Collectors album) 1992 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Cut is the seventh studio album by the Australian rock band, Hunters & Collectors. It was mostly produced by American Don Gehman with the group and issued by White Label/Mushroom on 5 October 1992. It reached No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart and No. 17 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The band were nominated for Best Group at the 1992 ARIA Music Awards and Album of the Year for Cut in the following year.

<i>Under One Roof</i> (album) 1998 live album by Hunters & Collectors

Under One Roof is the third live album by Australian rock group Hunters & Collectors, released on 11 November 1998. It was recorded on 13 March 1998 at one of the band's last performances of their Juggernaut Say Goodbye Tour at the Coogee Bay Hotel in Sydney. The group also issued a video album of the same name on VHS in 1998, which was directed by Victoria Garrett and Charlie Singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throw Your Arms Around Me</span> 1984 single by Hunters & Collectors

"Throw Your Arms Around Me" is a song by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors first released as a single in November 1984 by White Label for Mushroom Records. A re-recorded version of the song later appeared on the band's 1986 album Human Frailty. Written by bass guitarist John Archer, keyboardist Geoffrey Crosby, drummer Douglas Falconer, trumpet player Jack Howard, recorder/mixing engineer Robert Miles, vocalist/lead guitarist Mark Seymour and trombone player Michael Waters. The song captures the intensity of sensual love at the same time portraying its fleeting nature with lyrics including "And we may never meet again, So shed your skin and let's get started".

<i>Juggernaut</i> (Hunters & Collectors album) 1998 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Juggernaut is the ninth and final studio album by Australian rock band, Hunters & Collectors. The album, recorded in 1997, was co-produced by the group with Kalju Tonuma and Mark Opitz. It was released on 26 January 1998 on Mushroom's White Label. With its release, Hunters & Collectors announced they would disband after the Say Goodbye Tour – they gave their final performances in late March 1998. The album peaked at No. 36 on the ARIA Albums Chart and No. 48 on the New Zealand Albums Chart.

<i>Demon Flower</i> 1994 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Demon Flower is the eighth studio album by Australian rock band, Hunters & Collectors and was released on 16 May 1994. It was co-produced by the band with Nick Mainsbridge, reaching No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association. It also peaked at No. 9 on the New Zealand Albums Chart.

<i>Whats a Few Men?</i> 1987 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

What's a Few Men? is the fifth studio album by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors, which was released on 16 November 1987. The album's title was drawn from Albert Facey's memoir A Fortunate Life. The album peaked at No. 16 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 9 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. It provided the singles, "Do You See What I See", issued in October 1987 and "Still Hangin' Round", in February the following year. "Do You See What I See" reached No. 33 in Australia while in New Zealand it became their highest charting single at No. 13.

<i>Hunters & Collectors</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

Hunters & Collectors is the self-titled debut studio album by Australian rock band, Hunters & Collectors, which was released on 26 July 1982. It was produced by the band with Tony Cohen as audio engineer. The album peaked at No. 21 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 14 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The album's first single, "Talking to a Stranger", was released ahead of the album on 12 July, and was accompanied by a music video directed by film maker Richard Lowenstein, but it did not reach the Top 50 on the related singles chart.

<i>World of Stone</i> (EP) 1982 EP by Hunters & Collectors

World of Stone is the debut extended play by Australian rock music group, Hunters & Collectors, which was issued in January 1982. Mushroom Records had specifically started the White Label imprint for alternative artists when signing the group. World of Stone was co-produced by the group and Tony Cohen; and reached No. 50 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.

<i>Payload</i> (EP) 1982 EP by Hunters & Collectors

Payload is the second extended play by Australian rock music group, Hunters & Collectors, which was issued on 29 November 1982. It was co-produced by the group and Mike Howlett; and reached No. 31 on the New Zealand Singles Chart but did not reach the top 100 in Australia. Its lead single, "Lumps of Lead", was also released in November but did not chart in either Australia or New Zealand despite a music video by film maker, Richard Lowenstein.

<i>The Jaws of Life</i> 1984 studio album by Hunters & Collectors

The Jaws of Life is the third studio album by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors; it was released on 6 August 1984. It was co-produced by Konrad Plank and the band in Weilerswist, Germany. The album peaked at No. 89 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 37 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The only Australian single from the album, "The Slab" /"Carry Me", was released as a Double A sided single, in August but failed to chart on the Australian or New Zealand singles charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say Goodbye (Hunters & Collectors song)</span> 1986 single by Hunters & Collectors

"Say Goodbye" was the lead single from Australian pub rockers, Hunters & Collectors' fourth studio album, Human Frailty. It was released ahead of the album on 17 February 1986 in both 7" and 12" formats. It peaked at No. 24 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart and No. 20 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. "Say Goodbye" was co-written by band members John Archer, Doug Falconer, Jack Howard, Robert Miles, Mark Seymour, Jeremy Smith, and Michael Waters.

<i>Living Daylight</i> 1987 EP by Hunters & Collectors

Living Daylight is the third extended play by Australian rock music group, Hunters & Collectors, which was issued on 13 April 1987. It was co-produced by the group and Greg Edward; and reached No. 41 on the Australia Singles Chart and No. 25 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything's on Fire</span> 1986 single by Hunters & Collectors

"Everything's on Fire" was the third single from Australian pub rockers, Hunters & Collectors' fourth studio album, Human Frailty. It was released after the album on 18 August 1986 in both 7" and 12" formats. It peaked in the top 100 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart and No. 44 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. "Everything's on Fire" was co-written by band members John Archer, Doug Falconer, Jack Howard, Robert Miles, Mark Seymour, Jeremy Smith, and Michael Waters.

"True Tears of Joy" was the fourth single from Australian pub rockers, Hunters & Collectors' seventh studio album, Cut. It was released after the album on 23 November 1992. It peaked at No. 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart – the highest-charting single of their career – and No. 47 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. "True Tears of Joy" was co-written by band members John Archer, Doug Falconer, Jack Howard, Robert Miles, Barry Palmer, Mark Seymour, Jeremy Smith, and Michael Waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Is There Anybody in There?</span> 1986 single by Hunters & Collectors

"Is There Anybody in There?" is the twelfth single by Australian pub rock band Hunters & Collectors, released in 1986. It was released on 27 October 1986 as the fourth and final single from the album Human Frailty, in both 7" and 12" formats. "Is There Anybody in There?" peaked at number 41 on the Recorded Music NZ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Still Hanging 'Round</span> 1988 single by Hunters & Collectors

"Still Hanging 'Round" is the fifteenth single by Australian pub rock band Hunters & Collectors, released on 1 February 1988. It was released as the second single from Hunters & Collectors' fifth studio album What's a Few Men?, which peaked at No. 48 on the Recorded Music NZ. The B-side, “John Riley”, is a remake of a traditional song, the original version is by B. Gibson and R. Neff. "Still Hanging 'Round" was covered by Cloud Control on the tribute album, Crucible – The Songs of Hunters & Collectors.

References

  1. 1 2 Holmgren, Magnus; Warnqvist, Stefan; Bamford, Alan. "Hunters and Collectors". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  2. ↑ Jeff Jenkins (2007). 50 Years of Rock in Australia. Melbourne: Wilkinson Publishing. p. 290. ISBN   9781921332111.
  3. ↑ Stephen Alomes (November 2000). "One Day in September: Grass Roots Enthusiasm, invented Traditions and Contemporary Commercial Spectacle and the Australian Football League Finals" (PDF). Sporting Traditions. 17 (1). Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  4. ↑ "Hunters & Collectors Crucible Tribute Album of the Week". Triple M. Southern Cross Austereo. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  6. 1 2 "'Holy Grail' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 9 April 2014. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Holy Grail; or at 'Performer:' Hunters & Collectors
  7. ↑ "ACE Title Search". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2014. Note: User may have to enter details e.g. at 'Titles' enter Holy Grail; or at 'Performers' enter Hunters & Collectors
  8. ↑ "Hunters and Collectors – Holy Grail". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "Hunters and Collectors – Holy Grail". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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