Very Special (Debra Laws album)

The album peaked at No. 70 on the Billboard 200 and No. 13 on Billboard's Top Black Albums chart. The title track and "Be Yourself" were top 40 hits on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart.

Track listing

Side A
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"On My Own"	R. Laws	4:19
2.	"Meant for You"	Lasley, Seeman	3:59
3.	"Very Special"	Peters, Jeffery	4:28
4.	"Be Yourself"	D. Laws, East	5:00

Side B
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"Long As We're Together"	R. Laws	4:21
6.	"Your Love"	Mitchell	3:42
7.	"How Long"	Grey, Hanks	4:02
8.	"All The Things I Love"	Lasley, Seeman	3:55

Personnel

Debra Laws – lead vocals
Gwen Matthews – backing vocals (2, 4, 6–8)
Marlena Jeter – backing vocals (2, 4, 6–8)
David Lasley – backing vocals (2)
Eloise Laws – backing vocals (5)
Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (2)
Alexandra Brown – backing vocals (7)
Stephanie Hayes – backing vocals (7)
Nathan East – bass (1–2, 4–5, 7–8)
Alex Smith – bass (3)
Welton Gite – bass (6)
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (1–2, 5, 7)
Darryl Clifton – drums (3)
Raymond Pounds – drums (4, 6)
Roland Bautista – guitar (except 3)
Melvin Robinson – guitar (3)
Arthur Adams – guitar (3, 7)
Pat Kelley – guitar (5)
Bobby Lyle – keyboards (except 3)
Michael Robinson – keyboards (3)
Larry Dunn – synthesizer (1, 4–6, 8)
Ronnie Laws – saxophone (1, 3–4), duet vocals (3)
Hubert Laws – flute (4)

Production

Producer: Hubert Laws, Ronnie Laws
Engineer: Gerry E. Brown
Photography: Ron Slenzak

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	70
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	13

Year-end charts

Chart (1981)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	26

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1981	"Very Special"	Billboard Hot 100	90
	"Very Special"	Billboard Hot Soul Singles	11
	"Be Yourself"	Billboard Hot Soul Singles	31
	"Meant for You"	Billboard Hot Soul Singles	47

References

"Debra Laws Kept Other Job Despite Records Success". Jet. 61 (14). Johnson Publishing Company: 57. December 24, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2020 – via Google Books.
"Soul Albums". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 51. Nielsen Business Media. December 26, 1981. p. 28. Retrieved August 13, 2020 – via Google Books.
"Debra Laws, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
"Debra Laws, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
"Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
"Very Special (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
"Very Special (R&B)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
"Be Yourself". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
"Meant for You". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.

External links

Very Special at Discogs
Very Special at AllMusic

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