For this album the band was joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Steve Douglas on sax and Dr. John on piano, who would later collaborate with leadsinger Willy DeVille after his move to New Orleans.

Return to Magenta continued in the vein of the first album, with a mixture of rock, soul, blues, and Latin rhythms.

"[1] On Return to Magenta, however, Willy DeVille and producers Jack Nitzsche and Steve Douglas employed lavish string arrangements on several songs.

[6] During the Return to Magenta recording sessions, the band recorded two songs for the background of Paul Schrader's Hardcore: "Easy Slider" and "Guardian Angel", three songs for the soundtrack of the movie Cruising: "Heat of the Moment", "Pullin' My String", and "It's So Easy."

These songs were written by Willy DeVille and produced by Jack Nitzsche, who wrote the musical score for Cruising.

"[7] Mink DeVille toured North America with Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe after this album came out.