King Cool
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = King Cool
| type = Album
| artist = Donnie Iris and the Cruisers
| cover = Kingcool.jpg
| alt =
| released = August 1981
| recorded = Summer 1981 at Jeree Studios in New Brighton, PA
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Rock
| length =
| label = MCA
| producer = Mark Avsec
| prev_title = Back on the Streets
| prev_year = 1980
| next_title = The High and the Mighty
| next_year = 1982
| misc = {{Singles
|name = King Cool
|type = studio
|single1 = Sweet Merilee
|single1date = October 1981
|single2 = Love Is Like a Rock
|single2date = December 1981
|single3 = My Girl
|single3date = March 1982
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/king-cool-mw0000100364|title=King Cool - Donnie Iris | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic|access-date=30 November 2021}}
}}
King Cool is the second album by Donnie Iris, released in 1981.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parallel-time.com/kingcoolcd.htm|title=Parallel Time - The Unofficial Donnie Iris Site|website=Parallel-time.com|access-date=30 November 2021}} The album was reissued in remastered form on CD in 2021 by Rock Candy Records with a live bonus track from the 1981 Live EP.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockcandyrecords.com/|title=Rock Candy Records|website=Rockcandyrecords.com|access-date=30 November 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/18963451-Donnie-Iris-King-Cool|title=Donnie Iris – King Cool (2021, CD)|access-date=30 November 2021|website=Discogs.com|date=25 June 2021 }}
Track listing
=Side one=
- "Sweet Merilee" (Avsec, Iris) - 3:37
- "The Promise" (Lee) - 4:06
- "Pretender" (Avsec, Iris) - 5:15
- "Love Is Like a Rock" (Avsec, Iris, Lee, McClain, Valentine) - 3:35
- "That's the Way Love Ought to Be" (Avsec, Iris) - 4:19
=Side two=
- "My Girl" (Avsec, Iris) - 3:59
- "Broken Promises" (Avsec, Iris) - 4:21
- "King Cool" (Avsec, Iris) - 4:05
- "Color Me Blue" (Avsec, Iris) - 5:19
- "The Last to Know" (Avsec, Iris) - 5:19
=2021 remastered CD reissue=
Personnel
=Donnie Iris and the Cruisers=
- Donnie Iris - lead and background vocals
- Mark Avsec - piano, organ, synthesizers, glockenspiel, background vocals
- Marty Lee Hoenes - guitars and background vocals
- Albritton McClain - bass guitar and background vocals
- Kevin Valentine - drums and percussion
=Additional musicians=
- Kenny Blake - saxophone
Production
- Executive Producer: Carl Maduri
- Producer: Mark Avsec
- Engineer: Jerry Reed
- Mixed by Michael Barbiero at Mediasound Studios, New York
Chart positions
Album - Billboard (United States)
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Chart !Position |
| 1981
|Top LPs & Tape |align="center"|84 |
Singles - Billboard (United States)
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Single !Chart !Position |
| rowspan="2"|1981
|rowspan="2"|"Sweet Merilee" |Billboard Hot 100 |align="center"|80 |
| Top Rock Tracks
|align="center"|31 |
| rowspan="3"|1982
|rowspan="2"|"Love Is Like a Rock" |Billboard Hot 100 |align="center"|37 |
| Top Rock Tracks
|align="center"|9 |
| "My Girl"
|Billboard Hot 100 |align="center"|25 |