In a Special Way is the third studio album by American R&B group DeBarge, released by Gordy Records on September 23, 1983.

[3] After making the move to Los Angeles, DeBarge signed with a small label Source Records- much to Bunny's chagrin.

"[4] AllMusic's Jason Elias attributed its "minimalist and artful sound" to the rumor that the horn tracks were lost during its recording.

[1] In a contemporary review, Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times wrote that DeBarge "conveys an innocence that's rare in '80s pop music" and, although some songs can be excessively "cute" and sung high-pitched, they are "oddly appealing.

"[8] The Lexington Herald-Leader largely credited El DeBarge's soft vocals and upbeat arrangements for the group's success on the album and asserted that they appear to be "the future" of Motown.

[4] Robert Christgau, writing in The Village Voice, said that he "fell in love with the austere lilt and falsetto fantasy they've pinned to plastic here" because of their superior vocal skills.

Christgau felt that its music guilelessly pursues genuine vocal "beauty" and is strengthened by subtle Latinized rhythms.

[6] He named In a Special Way the tenth best album of the year in his list for the Pazz & Jop annual critics' poll.