# The End of Our Road > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_End_of_Our_Road > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_End_of_Our_Road.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_Our_Road > Source revision: 1340211934 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1968 single by Gladys Knight & the Pips "The End of Our Road" Single by Gladys Knight & the Pips from the album Feelin' Bluesy B-side "Don't Let Her Take Your Love From Me" Released January 25, 1968[1] Recorded 1967, Hitsville USA, Detroit Genre R&B, soul Length 2:19 Label Soul Songwriters Rodger Penzabene Norman Whitfield Barrett Strong Producer Norman Whitfield Gladys Knight & the Pips singles chronology "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (1967) "The End of Our Road" (1968) "It Should Have Been Me" (1968) **"The End of Our Road"** is a single written by [Rodger Penzabene](/source/Rodger_Penzabene), [Norman Whitfield](/source/Norman_Whitfield) and [Barrett Strong](/source/Barrett_Strong) in 1967. First recorded in 1967 by [Gladys Knight & the Pips](/source/Gladys_Knight_%26_the_Pips), the group's version of the song, released in 1968, became another top forty hit for them as it peaked at number fifteen on the pop singles chart and number five on the R&B singles chart. ## Background As with the last two songs in Penzabene's trilogy for [The Temptations](/source/The_Temptations), "[I Wish It Would Rain](/source/I_Wish_It_Would_Rain)" and "[I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)](/source/I_Could_Never_Love_Another_(After_Loving_You))", "The End of Our Road" talked about the demise of a couple's relationship. The sentiment behind the song's words, as lyricist Penzabene wrote his songs as personal statements to his wife, was about publicizing his pain of his own marriage falling apart. Unable to handle the extreme pain and hurt caused by this, he wrote the songs, drawing from his real-life heartbreak. After all three songs were completed and recorded, Penzabene committed suicide. ## Gladys Knight & the Pips version - Lead vocals by [Gladys Knight](/source/Gladys_Knight) - Background vocals by [Merald "Bubba" Knight](/source/Merald_%22Bubba%22_Knight), [William Guest](/source/William_Guest_(singer)) and [Edward Patten](/source/Edward_Patten) - Instrumentation by [The Funk Brothers](/source/The_Funk_Brothers) ### Chart positions Chart (1968) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 15 U.S. Billboard R&B Singles[2] 5 ## Marvin Gaye version Much like the minor controversy with "[I Heard It Through the Grapevine](/source/I_Heard_It_Through_the_Grapevine)", Whitfield produced a different version of the song with [Marvin Gaye](/source/Marvin_Gaye). It was first issued as a track on Gaye's 1969 studio album, *[M.P.G.](/source/M.P.G.)*, and then as a single on May 19, 1970. The song peaked at No. 40 on the *[Billboard Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100)* pop singles chart. It was the first song counted down on the first show of the syndicated radio countdown program *[American Top 40](/source/American_Top_40)* on the weekend of July 4, 1970.[3] - Lead vocals by [Marvin Gaye](/source/Marvin_Gaye) - Background vocals by [The Andantes](/source/The_Andantes) - Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers *[Record World](/source/Record_World)* called it "a great vehicle for Marvin Gaye."[4] *[Cash Box](/source/Cash_Box)* said "The results once more are astounding. The vocal is inflated by production work that is strictly Motown monopoly."[5] ### Chart positions Chart (1970) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 40 U.S. Billboard R&B Singles[6] 7 ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The End of Our Road / Don't Let Her Take Your Love from Me - Soul - USA"](https://www.45cat.com/record/S35042). *45cat.com*. Retrieved 24 February 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Whitburn, Joel](/source/Joel_Whitburn) (2004). *Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004*. Record Research. p. 330. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Appel, Rich (15 June 2014). ["Casey Kasem: The Man Who Made Countdowns "Coast To Coast""](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6121429/casey-kasem-the-man-who-made-countdowns-coast-to-coast). *Billboard*. Retrieved 14 February 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Single Picks of the Week"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/70/RW-1970-06-06.pdf) (PDF). *Record World*. June 6, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-26. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["CashBox Singles Reviews"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1970/CB-1970-05-30.pdf) (PDF). *Cash Box*. May 30, 1970. p. 42. Retrieved 2023-04-26. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Whitburn, Joel](/source/Joel_Whitburn) (2004). *Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004*. Record Research. p. 225. v t e Gladys Knight & the Pips Gladys Knight Merald "Bubba" Knight William Guest Edward Patten Studio albums Gladys Knight and the Pips Everybody Needs Love Nitty Gritty If I Were Your Woman Neither One of Us All I Need Is Time Imagination I Feel a Song 2nd Anniversary The One and Only Visions All Our Love Soundtrack albums Claudine Compilation albums The Ultimate Collection Singles "Every Beat of My Heart" "Letter Full of Tears" "Giving Up" "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" "Everybody Needs Love" "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" "The End of Our Road" "It Should Have Been Me" "I Wish It Would Rain" "The Nitty Gritty" "If I Were Your Woman" "I Don't Want to Do Wrong" "Help Me Make It Through the Night" "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" "The Look of Love" "Midnight Train to Georgia" "I've Got to Use My Imagination" "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me" "On and On" "I Feel a Song (In My Heart)" "The Way We Were/Try to Remember" "Save the Overtime (For Me)" "Hero" "Love Overboard" "Baby, Don't Change Your Mind" Related topics Discography Barry Hankerson v t e Marvin Gaye Studio albums The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye (1961) That Stubborn Kinda Fellow (1962) When I'm Alone I Cry (1964) Hello Broadway (1964) How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You (1965) A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole (1965) Moods of Marvin Gaye (1966) In the Groove (1968) M.P.G. (1969) That's the Way Love Is (1970) What's Going On (1971) Trouble Man (1972) Let's Get It On (1973) I Want You (1976) Here, My Dear (1978) In Our Lifetime (1981) Midnight Love (1982) Dream of a Lifetime (1985) Romantically Yours (1985) Vulnerable (1997) You're the Man (2019) Duet albums Together (with Mary Wells, 1964) Take Two (with Kim Weston, 1966) United (with Tammi Terrell, 1967) You're All I Need (with Tammi Terrell, 1968) Easy (with Tammi Terrell, 1969) Diana & Marvin (with Diana Ross, 1973) Live albums Marvin Gaye Recorded Live on Stage (1963) Marvin Gaye Live! (1974) Live at the London Palladium (1977) The Final Concert (2000) Marvin Gaye at the Copa (2005) What's Going On Live (2019) Compilation albums Greatest Hits (1964) Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (1967) Marvin Gaye and His Girls (1969) Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's Greatest Hits (1970) Super Hits (1970) Anthology (1974) Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits (1976) Motown Remembers Marvin Gaye: Never Before Released Masters (1986) The Marvin Gaye Collection (1990) The Norman Whitfield Sessions (1994) Love Starved Heart: Rare and Unreleased (1994) The Very Best of Marvin Gaye (UK) (1994) The Master (1961–1984) (1995) Marvin Gaye: The Love Songs (2000) The Complete Duets (2001) The Very Best of Marvin Gaye (US) (2001) Video releases The Real Thing: In Performance (1964–1981) (2006) US/UK top-ten singles "Pride and Joy" "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)" "I'll Be Doggone" "Ain't That Peculiar" "Your Precious Love" "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" "You're All I Need to Get By" "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" "That's the Way Love Is" "Abraham, Martin and John" "The Onion Song" "What's Going On" "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" "Trouble Man" "Let's Get It On" "You Are Everything" "Got to Give It Up" "Sexual Healing" Family Marvin Gay Sr. (father) Alberta Gay (mother) Anna Gordy Gaye (first wife) Denise Gordy (son's birth mother) Nona Gaye (daughter) Frankie Gaye (brother) Gordon Banks (brother-in-law) Related articles Discography Awards and nominations Personal life Death Tributes The Marquees Harvey Fuqua Tammi Terrell Leon Ware Marvin's Room Marvin Is 60: A Tribute Album Divided Soul Sexual Healing Tour Category v t e Marvin Gaye singles 1960s: (Tamla) 1961 "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide" 1962 "Sandman" "Soldier's Plea" "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" "Hitch Hike" 1963 "Pride and Joy" "Can I Get a Witness" 1964 "You're a Wonderful One" "Once Upon a Time" "What's the Matter with You Baby" "Try It Baby" "Baby Don't You Do It" "What Good Am I Without You" "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)" 1965 "I'll Be Doggone" "Pretty Little Baby" "Ain't That Peculiar" 1966 "One More Heartache" "Take This Heart of Mine" "Little Darling (I Need You)" "It Takes Two" 1967 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" "Your Unchanging Love" "Your Precious Love" "You" "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You"/"If This World Were Mine" 1968 "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" "You're All I Need to Get By" "Chained" "Keep On Lovin' Me Honey" "You Ain't Livin' till You're Lovin'" "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" 1969 "Good Lovin' Ain't Easy to Come By" "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" "That's the Way Love Is" "Abraham, Martin and John" "What You Gave Me" "How Can I Forget" 1970s: (Tamla) 1970 "Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" "The Onion Song" "California Soul" "The End of Our Road" 1971 "What's Going On" "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" "Save the Children" 1972 "You're the Man" "Trouble Man" "I Want to Come Home for Christmas" 1973 "Let's Get It On" "You're a Special Part of Me" "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" "Come Get to This" 1974 "You Sure Love to Ball" "My Mistake (Was to Love You)" "Don't Knock My Love" "You Are Everything" "Distant Lover" 1976 "I Want You" "After the Dance" "Since I Had You" 1977 "Got to Give It Up" 1978 "Pops, We Love You" 1979 "A Funky Space Reincarnation" "Anger" "Ego Tripping Out" 1980s: (Tamla/ Columbia) 1981 "Praise" "Heavy Love Affair" 1982 "Sexual Healing" 1983 "My Love Is Waiting" "'Til Tomorrow" "Joy" Posthumous 1985 "Sanctified Lady" "It's Madness" "Just Like" 1986 "The World Is Rated X" 1991 "My Last Chance" 1994 "Lucky, Lucky Me" 1995 "This Love Starved Heart Of Mine(It's Killing Me)" 2001 "Music" 2005 "Let's Get It On (The M.P.G. Groove Remix)" 2015 "Where Are We Going" Category This 1960s single-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:1960s-single-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3A1960s-single-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:1960s-single-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The End of Our Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_Our_Road) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_Our_Road?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.