{{Short description|Australian soul, blues and funk band}} {{Use Australian English|date=December 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Dynamic Hepnotics | image = Dynamic Hepnotics live 1983.jpg | alt = | caption = | image_size = 200px | landscape = yes | alias = | origin = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | genre = Blue-eyed soul, funk | years_active = {{start date|1979}}–{{end date|1986}} | label = Mambo, Missing Link, Mushroom, White Label, Festival | associated_acts = The Mighty Reapers, Continental Blues Party, The Necks, The Catholics, The Doodaddies, The Moods, Seriously Cool | website = {{URL|dynamichepnotics.com}} | current_members = | past_members = Tim Martin<br />Manuel Patty<br />Richard Ruhle<br />Andrew Silver<br />Robert Susz<br />Vickie Kenny<br />Bruce Allen<br />Allen Britton<br />Robert Souter<br />Mike Gubb<br />Peter Bishop<br />Dave Brewer<br />Mark Simmonds<br />Duncan Archibald<br />Chris Pascoe<br />Lloyd Swanton }} '''Dynamic Hepnotics''' were an Australian soul, blues and funk band who formed in 1979 and disbanded in 1986. Mainstay, lead vocalist and front man, "Continental" Robert Susz formed the group in Sydney. They had chart success on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart with a top&nbsp;5 single, "Soul Kind of Feeling" in 1984. It was followed by "Gotta Be Wrong (Way to Love)" which reached the top&nbsp;20 in 1985. Their album, ''Take You Higher'', reached the top&nbsp;20 on the related Albums Chart in June. In 1986, "Soul Kind of Feeling" won the APRA Music Award for 'Most Performed Australasian Popular Work'.

==History== Dynamic Hepnotics formed in Sydney in 1979 with Tim Martin on saxophone (ex-Friends), Manuel Patty on bass guitar, Richard Ruhle on drums, Andrew Silver on guitar (Big Town Playboys) and "Continental" Robert Susz on vocals and harmonica (Rugcutters, Humdinger Dogs).<ref name="McF">{{cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | authorlink1 = Ian McFarlane | title = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'The Dynamic Hepnotics' | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040419220446/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=305 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=305 | accessdate = 12 December 2011 | archivedate = 19 April 2004 | year = 1999 | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }}</ref> One of their early gigs was at the Potts Point night club, Arthur's.<ref name="Warner"/> In May 1980 this line-up issued a four-track extended play, ''Shakin' All Over'' on the Mambo label.<ref name="McF"/><ref name=ausrockdb-dyn-hep/> By the time of its release, Silver and Susz had been joined by Bruce Allen on saxophone (ex-Jeff St John Band, Ol' 55), Allen Britton on bass guitar (Mangrove Boogie Kings) and Robert Souter on drums (Lizard, Gulliver's Travels, Living Legends).<ref name="McF"/><ref name=ausrockdb-dyn-hep/> The group issued a single, "Hepnobeat", in September 1981 and subsequently changed from Mambo to Missing Link Records.<ref name="McF"/><ref name=ausrockdb-dyn-hep/> Jim Niven from The Sports played organ on the single.<ref name="McF"/> An early line-up featured television presenter, Jonathan Coleman, on piano.<ref name="Warner">{{cite book | title = Countdown: the Wonder Years 1974–1987 | last1 = Warner | first1 = Dave | authorlink1 = Dave Warner (musician) | date = June 2006 | publisher = ABC Books | location = Sydney, NSW | isbn = 0-7333-1401-5 | page = 110 }}</ref><ref name="NostCent">{{cite web | url = http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/music/dynamichepnotics.htm | title = Dynamic Hepnotics | publisher = Nostalgia Central }}</ref>

In August 1982 they released a six-track EP, ''Strange Land'', which was produced by Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons) for Missing Link.<ref name="McF"/><ref name=ausrockdb-dyn-hep/> The group contributed to the soundtrack of 1983 feature film, ''Going Down''.<ref name="Sawyer">{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-morning-after-the-night-before-20110415-1dhfs.html | title = The Morning After the Night Before | last1 = Sawyer | first1 = Mark | work = Sydney Morning Herald| publisher = Fairfax Media | date = 15 April 2011 | accessdate = 13 December 2011 }}</ref> By 1984 the band had signed with Mushroom Records' White Label Records. In late January Dynamic Hepnotics appeared at the Narara Music Festival.<ref name="Narara">{{cite news | title = Narara Music Festival | work = Central Coast Express Weekender | publisher = News Corporation | date = 20 January 1984}}</ref><ref name="Narara84">{{cite web | url = http://www.australianmusichistory.com/wp-content/gallery/jeff_white_narara_84/narara-84-prog.jpg | title = Narara '84 Programme | last1 = Mostyn | first1 = Patti | publisher = Australian Music History | date = 27 January 1984 | accessdate = 14 December 2011 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110915053539/http://www.australianmusichistory.com/wp-content/gallery/jeff_white_narara_84/narara-84-prog.jpg | archivedate = 15 September 2011}}</ref> They released a single, "I'll Make You", in May.<ref name="McF"/><ref name=ausrockdb-dyn-hep/> Their highest-charting hit, "Soul Kind of Feeling", appeared on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart in October 1984 and peaked at No.&nbsp;5.<ref name="Kent">{{cite book | title = Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 | last1 = Kent | first1 = David | authorlink1 = David Kent (historian) | publisher = Australian Chart Book Ltd | location = St Ives, NSW | year = 1993 | isbn = 0-646-11917-6 }} Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.</ref><ref name="AusCharts">{{cite web | url = http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&search=Dynamic+Hepnotics&id=34759&pages=#981315 | title = Chart Positions Pre 1989 Part 4 – Dynamic Hepnotics | last1 = Ryan (bulion) | first1 = Gary | publisher = Hung Medien | work = Australian Charts Portal | date = 5 June 2011 | accessdate = 13 December 2011 }}</ref>

Early in 1985, they issued ''Live'' (aka ''The Dynamic Hepnotics Live''), which including cover versions and originals recorded live in the studio.<ref name="McF"/><ref name=ausrockdb-dyn-hep/> An audible hissing noise was recorded onto the album from the sound of fire extinguishers used to put out a fire under the stage as the group performed.<ref name="NostCent"/> Mike Gubb joined on keyboards. ''Live'' was followed by "Gotta Be Wrong (Way to Love)" in May, which reached the top&nbsp;20.<ref name="Kent"/><ref name="AusCharts"/> Their album, ''Take You Higher'', reached the top&nbsp;20 on the related Albums Chart in June.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Kent"/> At the end of that year, Dave Brewer replaced Silver on guitar, Mark Simmonds replaced Allen on saxophone and Peter Bishop joined on trumpet.<ref name="McF"/> The group's final single, "On Our Way Now", was released in March 1986, which reached the top&nbsp;100.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="AusCharts"/> Souter was replaced by Duncan Archibald on drums, Gubb was replaced by Chris Pascoe on keyboards and Lloyd Swanton replaced Britton on bass guitar.<ref name="McF"/><ref name=ausrockdb-dyn-hep/> However, the group disbanded before the end of the year.<ref name="McF"/> In 1986, "Soul Kind of Feeling" won the APRA Music Award for 'Most Performed Australasian Popular Work'.<ref name="APRAWin1986">{{cite web | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/History/1986Winners.aspx | title = 1986 Winners - APRA Music Awards | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | accessdate = 13 December 2011 }}</ref>

==After disbandment== In 1988 Susz formed a "stylish soul / R&B" group, The Mighty Reapers, with Archibald, Brewer and Ruhle. That group recorded three albums, ''The Mighty Reapers'' (1993), ''Trouble People'' (1994) and ''The Hurt Is On'' (1997).<ref name="McF"/> Susz was later in the group, Continental Blues Party. Bruce Allen later toured &/or recorded with The Allniters, Eurogliders, The Eddys, Glenn Shorrock, Doug Parkinson and Ross Wilson, and currently performs with a number of Sydney-based bands including The Layabouts, The Bellhops and The Hollywood Hombres. Mike Gubb has worked with a number of Australian bands, including Mental As Anything, Ganggajang, The Whitlams and Dog Trumpet.<ref name="McF"/><ref name=ausrockdb-dyn-hep/> Lloyd Swanton formed a jazz trio, The Necks, in 1987 with Chris Abrahams and Tony Buck.<ref name="McFTN">McFarlane [https://web.archive.org/web/20040803085003/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=6 'Chris Abrahams'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=6 the original] on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2011.</ref> Dave Brewer has worked with The Catholics (formed by Swanton in 1991) and currently performs with Perth-based blues band The Doodaddies. In late 2008, Brewer released a solo album titled ''Life of Riley''. Richard Ruhle performs with Sydney-based jazz 4-piece Seriously Cool. Robert Souter performs with Mental As Anything. Duncan Archibald performs with Sydney-based band The Moods.

Four of the original band members (Susz, Souter, Britton and Brewer) performed 2 shows under the Dynamic Hepnotics name in 2015, at the Caloundra Music Festival and the last ever Narooma-based Great Southern Blues and Roots Music Festival.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Tom|title=Caloundra Music Festival's First 2015 Lineup Announced|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/caloundra-music-festivals-first-2015-lineup-announced/|website=Music Feeds|accessdate=29 August 2016|date=2 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Narooma Blues Festival Announces 2015 Lineup|url=http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2015/04/16/the-dynamic-hepnotics-to-perform-one-off-reunion-show-at-narooma-festival/|website=TheMusic.com.au|accessdate=29 August 2016|date=16 April 2015}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart<br />positions |- ! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | <small>AUS</small><br /><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=18}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Live'' | * Released: December 1984 * Label: White Label (L27147) * Note: live album | align="center" | 66 |- ! scope="row" | ''Take You Higher'' | * Released: May 1985 * Label: White Label (RML 53164) | align="center" | 30 |}

===Compilation albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row" | ''Hepnobest'' | * Released: 2016 * Label: Right On Records (ROR1609) |}

===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row" | ''Shakin' All Over'' | * Released: 1980 * Label: Mambo Records (MAMBO 501) |- ! scope="row" | ''Strange Land'' | * Released: 1982 * Label: Missing Link (ING 007 |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of singles, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Title ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart<br />positions |- ! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | <small>AUS</small><br /><ref name=aus/> |- | 1981 ! scope="row" | "Hepnobeat" | style="text-align:center;" | - |- |rowspan="3"| 1984 ! scope="row" | "I'll Make You" | style="text-align:center;" | - |- ! scope="row" | "Soul Kind of Feeling" | style="text-align:center;" | 5 |- ! scope="row" | "Gotta Be Wrong (Way to Love)" | style="text-align:center;" | 20 |- |rowspan="2"| 1985 ! scope="row" | "Whenever You're Ready" | style="text-align:center;" | - |- ! scope="row" | "Believe Me" | style="text-align:center;" | - |- | 1986 ! scope="row" | "On Our Way Now" | style="text-align:center;" | 86 |}

==Awards and nominations== ===Countdown Australian Music Awards=== ''Countdown'' was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine ''TV Week''. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.<ref name="CountdownMarch1987">{{Cite web | url = http://www.countdownmemories.com/magazines/pdfs/1987_03.pdf | title = Countdown to the Awards | work = Countdown Magazine |date=March 1987 | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | format = Portable document format (PDF) | accessdate = 16 December 2010 }}</ref><ref name="1987noms&wins">{{cite web|url=http://1970scountdown.atspace.com/1987.html|title=Final episode of Countdown|website=1970scountdown|accessdate=23 October 2020}}</ref>

{{awards table}} |- | 1984 | "Soul Kind of Feeling" | Best Single | {{nom}} |- {{end}}

==Band personnel== Credits:<ref name="McF"/><ref name=ausrockdb-dyn-hep>{{cite web|title=Dynamic Hepnotics|url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/d/dynamichepnotics.html|last1=Holmgren|first1=Magnus|publisher=Australian Rock Database. (Magnus Holmgren)|accessdate=11 December 2011|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022063158/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/d/dynamichepnotics.html|archivedate=22 October 2013}}</ref>

'''Vocals, harmonica''' * Robert Susz (1979–1986)

'''Guitar''' * Andrew Silver (1979–1986) * Dave Brewer (1986)

'''Bass guitar''' * Manuel Patty (1979) * Vickie Kenny (1979–1980) * Allen Britton (1980–1986) * Lloyd Swanton (1986)

'''Drums''' * Richard Ruhle (1979–1980) * Robert Souter (1980–1986) * Duncan Archibald (1986)

'''Saxophone''' * Tim Martin (1979–1980) * Bruce Allen (1980–1985) * Mark Simmonds (1985–1986)

'''Trumpet''' * Peter Bishop (1985–1986)

'''Keyboard''' * Mike Gubb (1985–1986) * Chris Pascoe (1986)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{MusicBrainz artist|id=67138cc1-0aa8-4003-85fe-ef7a55b5450c|name=Dynamic Hepnotics}} {{Authority control}}

Category:APRA Award winners Category:Australian funk musical groups Category:Australian soul musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1979 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1986 Category:Musical groups from Sydney