Originally, the opening bass riff was meant to be played on piano, but due to Nile Rodgers' – who had also produced the band's third studio album Talkback (1983) – suggestion, it was changed.

The production was also "punched up" through the use of the Aubrey Juke Brass Section and the Simms Brothers' backing vocals – who had also played for the likes of David Bowie.

Originally, Gordon Deppe lacked actual lyrics to add to those portions of the song.

While recording, he decided to sing the "doot-doots" as a kind of filler while he tried to formulate words, but he could not come up with anything that fit.

[1] Despite being made for a movie soundtrack, "Romantic Traffic" is one of the Spoons' signature songs in part because of that choice in the chorus.