Burning The Ground Exclusive
Debuting on Club Nouveau leader Jay King’s RCA-distributed label, King Jay Records, Theresa was a Sacramento, California–based duo made up of singer Theresa King and keyboardist Victor Porter. Their sound blended smooth mid-80s R&B with the polished production and melodic sensibilities that defined Jay King’s musical circle.
In 1987, the duo released their debut album Broken Puzzle, which reached #62 on Billboard’s R&B Albums Chart. The LP’s production roster read like a who’s who of late-’80s R&B: Jay King, along with Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster—the powerhouse production team that would soon make waves as part of Foster & McElroy, crafting hits for artists like Tony! Toni! Toné! and En Vogue.
The album’s standout single, “Last Time,” became Theresa’s breakthrough moment. Peaking at #18 on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles Chart, it spent an impressive 17 weeks on the chart—marking the duo’s highest and only major chart success. The song’s sleek grooves, soulful vocals, and synth-driven production perfectly captured the late-’80s R&B radio sound—refined, heartfelt, and dancefloor-ready.
Though Theresa never followed up with another album, Broken Puzzle remains a hidden gem from a fertile era of West Coast R&B, when Jay King’s creative network helped shape the sound of modern soul.
SIDE A:
Last Time (Radio Version) 4:22
Last Time (Dub Mix) 2:49
SIDE B:
Last Time (Club Mix) 5:43
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
| Chart | Peak Position | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot Black Singles | #18 | 1987 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA Victor – 6489-1-RDX, King Jay Records – 6489-1-RDX
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: RnB/Swing, Electro, Funk
CREDITS:
- Baritone Vocals [Additional] – Valerie Watson
- Co-producer [Associate Producer], Executive Producer – Jay King
- Edited By – James Reese
- Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Norman Whitfield Jr.
- Photography By, Design – Darius Anthony
- Producer – Denzil Foster & Thomas McElroy*
- Remix – E. Nuri*
- Written-By – Denzil Foster-Thomas McElroy*, Jay King
NOTES:
“Theresa” is Theresa King & Victor Porter
Produced for 2-Tuff-E-Nuff Productions
From the forthcoming album, “Broken Puzzle”
Made in U.S.A.
Nuy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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This is fantastic Paul!! Love that groove and the percussion! Too bad Theresa made no charting impact after this. I love the production roster too! I could picture Patti LaBelle owning this one… As JP mentioned, this is probably your best Closet 80s posting yet. Thank you Paul!!
I liked this song a lot when I first heard it in 1987 and the 12″ versions have been on my R&B most wanted list for several years since they have never been released in digital form as far as I know. I can cross this one off now. Thanks Paul!
Thank you Paul. Another track which is new to me or I can’t remember it.. I am not sure. Sounds a little bit like René & Angela meets Janet Jackson. I like it. Perfect.
This is a most successful Closet 80’s post! I don’t think I have ever heard this track before. Love that my favorite era still has so many untapped gems and that there is always something more discover. The radio mix is pretty good but I have a sensation that it is a little less polished than a lot of its contemporary competition… so I am not totally surprised that it didn’t break out more. The real winner here for me is the Club Mix. It really refines the track into a great remix, the reverb and vocal looping are off… Read more »
Thanks so much, JP! I’m really glad you enjoyed this one. That’s exactly what I love about doing the Closet 80s series—there are still so many great tracks hiding in the corners of the decade just waiting to be rediscovered. I totally agree about the production—while the Radio Mix has that late-’80s sheen, it doesn’t quite hit the same polish level as some of the bigger-charting R&B cuts from the time. But yes, that Club Mix really elevates it! The vocal looping/stutter effect you mentioned gives it so much energy—it’s such a hallmark of that era’s remix style. When done… Read more »
Yes, exactly! Well said. I finally figured out the song that was on the edge of my thoughts when I was listening to Last Time Club Mix earlier (no, not the Why You Treat Me So Bad classic sample that closes out the track which really made me grin) — Wish featuring Fonda Rae – Touch Me (All Night Long) is an absolutely incredible track. The 12″ mix is a monster, but there is a massive looped vocal section near the end that just goes on forever, grows in intensity, and takes me out of the groove. It’s such a… Read more »
Hey Paul This Jamm Is OK. It Sounds Like Janet Jackson. It’s Missing That Jimmy Jamm And Teddy Lewis Treat! I Still Love The Surprise You Rip!! Thanks Paul
I love how she says in the lyrics, “My name is King, not Jackson”.
Good duo, good song, unfortunately Theresa and many groups like them, to be successful and transcend, had to compete perhaps with the most influential and talented generation of the 20th century, that of the 80s.
Absolutely, Ruben — well said! The 1980s were such a fiercely competitive decade for music. So many incredible artists and producers were shaping the sound of R&B, pop, and dance at the same time that a lot of really talented acts like Theresa ended up flying under the radar.
That’s part of what makes revisiting these hidden gems so rewarding — hearing how much quality and creativity was out there, even from artists who didn’t quite break through. Thanks for sharing your insight and for giving this one a listen!
—DJ Paul
THANK YOU!! I was telling my wife Karen today that what I so love about you, Paul, and Burning The Ground, is the huge variety and diversity of the music you post. We were listening to a CD of some of your selections, when I made this comment. When I listen to the radio, especially an 80’s station, it’s so much the same old same old. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but so much of the selection is extremely tired. I get thrilled and excited because you are giving the world a sonic spectrum of the coolest… Read more »
Getting my groove on to this “new” record! Wow, Paul! I can see someone busting out some serious moves to this record on the dance floor! I love the song’s lyrics of empowerment too!!
Fantastic share!!!
Jeff
Wow, Jeff — I can’t tell you how much your words mean to me. ❤️Knowing that you and Karen were listening together and sharing those memories truly makes all the work that goes into Burning the Ground worthwhile. You really captured exactly why I do this — to celebrate the incredible variety of music the ’80s gave us, far beyond the same handful of hits that get replayed endlessly. There’s still so much to discover, and it’s such a joy to know the mixes and tracks I post can spark that same excitement you felt discovering music back in the… Read more »