It has been a modest hit for Schwartz in Canada, for the band America in the US, and for Meat Loaf in the UK.

"Special Girl" first appeared on Schwartz' 1984 album, Public Life, and was released as a single with an accompanying music video.

Later the same year, the band America recorded a version, releasing it as a single from their 1984 album Perspective.

This version cracked the top 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States, reaching No.

[3] The tune was also covered by Meat Loaf on his 1986 album, Blind Before I Stop.