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 5 single, "Soul Kind of Feeling" in 1984. It was followed by "Gotta Be Wrong (Way to Love)" which reached the top 20 in 1985. Their album, Take You Higher, reached the top 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). One of their early gigs was at the Potts Point night club, Arthur's.
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. By 1984 the band had signed with Mushroom Records' White Label Records. In late January Dynamic Hepnotics appeared at the Narara Music Festival. They released a single, "I'll Make You", in May.
Early in 1985, they issued Live (aka The Dynamic Hepnotics Live), which including cover versions and originals recorded live in the studio.
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). 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.
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 />
|-
! 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 />
|-
| 1984
| "Soul Kind of Feeling"
| Best Single
|
|-
Band personnel
Credits:
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)