''My Favorite Dream'' is the tenth studio album and first children's album by American singer

John Legend John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He began his musical career working behind the scenes for other artists, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's " Every ...

. It was released on August 30, 2024, through John Legend Music Inc. and

Republic Records Republic Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). Based in New York City, it was founded by Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman as an independent label in 1995, and was acquired by UMG in 2000. Republic was initially ...

. The album includes the single "L-O-V-E". It follows up his 2022 album ''

Legend A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess certain qualities that give the ...

'' (2022). The album is entirely produced by

Sufjan Stevens Sufjan Stevens ( ; born July 1, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released ten solo studio albums and multiple collaborative albums with other artists. Stevens has received Grammy and Academy Award nomina ...

Background and conception

''My Favorite Dream'' marks Legend's first entry into

children's music Children's music or kids' music is music composed and performed for children. In European-influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has hi ...

. Legend stated his idea for the album came from learning the

Fisher-Price Fisher-Price, Inc. is an American company that produces educational toys for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, headquartered in East Aurora, New York, East Aurora, New York (state), New York. It was founded in 1930 during the Great Depression ...

song "Maybe" on the piano.

Chrissy Teigen Christine Diane Teigen (born November 30, 1985) is an American model, television personality, and author. She made her professional modeling debut in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue, in 2010, ...

, his spouse, uploaded a video of Legend playing and singing "Maybe" to one of their children. The warm reception from Legend's fans inspired him to start creating children's music: "I kind of took it as a challenge, not to just cover some songs kids already knew and loved, but to try to create something new. So, I wrote nine new original songs and made a whole album of it."

Artwork

The album cover features a picture of Legend from his childhood, with childlike drawings in the margins.

Promotion

The lead single from the album "L-O-V-E" was published on August 9, 2024. On September 4, 2024, Legend performed "Always Come Back" on ''

Jimmy Kimmel Live! ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', sometimes shortened to ''JKL'', is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and broadcast on ABC. The nightly hour-long show tapes and is based out of the Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywo ...

''. On September 26, the official video for "Always Come Back" was uploaded to Legend's YouTube channel. Legend collaborated with social media educater,

Ms. Rachel Rachel Anne Accurso (; born November 30, 1982), better known as Ms. Rachel, is an American YouTuber, social media personality, singer, songwriter, and educator. She is best known for creating the YouTube series ''Songs for Littles'', a children' ...

, on a ''Sing-A-Longs'' rendition of "L-O-V-E".

Accolades

In November 2024 it was announced that the album had received a nomination for Best Children's Music Album at the

2025 Grammy Awards The 67th Annual Grammy Awards honored the best recordings, compositions, and artists from September 16, 2023, to August 30, 2024, as chosen by the members of the Recording Academy, on February 2, 2025. In its 22nd year at Crypto.com Arena in L ...

Track listing

Personnel

Musicians *

– lead vocals (all tracks), background vocals (1, 5, 7, 8, 11), piano (7, 12) *

– background vocals (tracks 1–11), drums, percussion, piano (1–6, 8–11);

celesta The celesta () or celeste (), also called a bell-piano, is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. It looks similar to an upright piano (four- or five-octave), albeit with smaller keys and a much smaller cabinet, or a large wooden music ...

(1–6, 9, 10), acoustic guitar (1–3, 5, 6),

vibraphone The vibraphone (also called the vibraharp) is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using Percussion mallet, mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone ...

(1, 2, 4, 9),

drum machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument that creates percussion sounds, drum beats, and patterns. Drum machines may imitate drum kits or other percussion instruments, or produce unique sounds, such as synthesized electronic tones. A d ...

(1, 3–6),

bagpipes Bagpipes are a woodwind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. The Great Highland bagpipes are well known, but people have played bagpipes for centuries throughout large parts of Europe, N ...

(1, 5, 6);

alto recorder The alto recorder in F, also known as a treble (and, historically, as consort flute and common flute) is a member of the recorder family. Up until the 17th century the alto instrument was normally in G4 instead of F4. Its standard range is F ...

, tenor recorder (2–6, 10);

sopranino recorder The sopranino recorder is the second smallest recorder of the modern recorder family, and was the smallest before the 17th century. This modern instrument has F5 as its lowest note, and its length is 20 cm. It is almost always made from so ...

(2–4, 6, 10),

recorder Recorder or The Recorder may refer to: Newspapers * ''Indianapolis Recorder'', a weekly newspaper * ''The Recorder'' (Massachusetts newspaper), a daily newspaper published in Greenfield, Massachusetts, US * ''The Recorder'' (Port Pirie), a newsp ...

(2, 3, 5, 6, 10),

ukulele The ukulele ( ; ); also called a uke (informally), is a member of the lute (ancient guitar) family of instruments. The ukulele is of Portuguese origin and was popularized in Hawaii. The tone and volume of the instrument vary with size and con ...

(2, 9), electric guitar (3–6, 11), electric bass (3, 7, 8),

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin. ...

(3), keyboards (4);

conga The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest ...

, drum programming (8) * Hannah Cohen – background vocals (tracks 1–6, 8–11) * Keenan O'Meara – background vocals (tracks 1–6, 8–11) * Megan Lui – background vocals (tracks 1–6, 8–11) * David Nelson – trombone (tracks 1–6, 9–11),

flugelhorn The flugelhorn (), also spelled fluegelhorn, flugel horn, or flügelhorn, is a brass instrument that resembles the trumpet and cornet, but has a wider, more conical bore. Like trumpets and cornets, most flugelhorns are pitched in B♭, though ...

(3, 4), tuba (3, 6), trumpet (4),

horn Horn may refer to: Common uses * Horn (acoustic), a tapered sound guide ** Horn antenna ** Horn loudspeaker ** Vehicle horn ** Train horn *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various animals * Horn (instrument), a family ...

(13) * Matt Bauder –

flute The flute is a member of a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, producing sound with a vibrating column of air. Flutes produce sound when the player's air flows across an opening. In th ...

tenor saxophone The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (whi ...

(tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 9, 11);

baritone saxophone The baritone saxophone (sometimes abbreviated to "bari sax") is a member of the saxophone family of instruments, larger (and lower-pitched) than the tenor saxophone, but smaller (and higher-pitched) than the bass saxophone, bass. It is the lowe ...

(1, 2, 4–6),

soprano saxophone The soprano saxophone is a small, high-pitched member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented in the 1840s by Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax. Built in B♭ an octave above the tenor saxophone (or rarely, slightly small ...

(2),

alto saxophone The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgians, Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in the key of E♭ ( ...

(4–6, 9) * David Lizmi – electric bass (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 9),

double bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...

(10, 11) *

Parker Kindred Parker Kindred is an American drummer who played in the band of Jeff Buckley, appearing on his unfinished second album, '' Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk'' in 1997, as well as playing live with Buckley and the rest of his band at Arlene's ...

– drums (track 1) *

Chris Thile Christopher Scott Thile (; born February 20, 1981) is an American mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and radio personality, best known for his work in the progressive acoustic trio Nickel Creek and the acoustic folk and progressive blue ...

–

mandolin A mandolin (, ; literally "small mandola") is a Chordophone, stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally Plucked string instrument, plucked with a plectrum, pick. It most commonly has four Course (music), courses of doubled St ...

(tracks 2, 9) * Kay Manee – background vocals (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8, 11) * Natalie Imani – background vocals (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8, 11) * Erick Walls – acoustic guitar, electric guitar (track 3) * Liam Cunningham – background vocals (track 3) * Sima Cunningham – background vocals (track 3) * Macie Stewart – background vocals (track 3) *

Kaveh Rastegar Kaveh Rastegar is a Persian-American record producer, composer, and bass guitarist. He is best known for his work with John Legend, Sia, Bruno Mars, and Sting and Kneebody. He has two Grammy nominations. For over twenty years, Kaveh Rastegar ...

– bass (track 3) * Munyungo Jackson – percussion (track 3) *

Sam Evian Sam Griffin Owens, known professionally as Sam Evian, is an American songwriter, instrumentalist and producer based in New York. He has released four full-length albums. History In 2016, Sam Evian signed with Saddle Creek Records. Sam Evian's m ...

– electric guitar (tracks 4, 8) *

– background vocals (track 4) * Miles Stephens – background vocals (track 4) * Luna Stephens – background vocals (track 4) * Matt Jones Orchestra –

chamber orchestra Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...

(tracks 8, 11) * Hakeem Holloway – bass (track 8) * Abby Gundersen –

cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...

, violin (track 10) * Maeve Gilchrist –

harp The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps can be made and played in various ways, standing or sitting, and in orchestras or ...

(tracks 10, 11) * Sean Mullins – drums (track 11) * Matt Jones – piano (track 11) * Clare Manchon – background vocals (tracks 13–15), clapping (13) * Ernestine Manchon – background vocals (tracks 13–15), clapping (13) * Gustave Manchon – background vocals (tracks 13–15), clapping (13) * Olivier Manchon – orchestration (tracks 13–15), background vocals (13, 15), clapping (13), keyboards (14, 15); viola, violin (14);

strings String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...

, vibraphone (15) *

Gail Ann Dorsey Gail Ann Dorsey (born November 20, 1962) is an American musician. With a long career as a session musician mainly on bass guitar, she performed regularly in David Bowie's band, from 1995 to Bowie's last tour in 2004. Aside from playing bass, sh ...

– background vocals (track 13), bass (14) * James McAlister – drums (tracks 13–15), percussion (14, 15) * Thomas Deis – guitar (tracks 13, 14) * Hideaki Aomori –

woodwinds Woodwind instruments are a family of musical instruments within the greater category of wind instruments. Common examples include flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. There are two main types of woodwind instruments: flutes and re ...

(tracks 14, 15) * Anita Balázs – cello (track 14) * Anthea White – background vocals (track 15) *

Mark Palmer Mark Palmer may refer to: *Mark Palmer (cricketer) (born 1967), Australian cricketer *Mark Palmer (diplomat) (1941–2013), American diplomat *Sir Mark Palmer, 5th Baronet (born 1941), British aristocrat {{hndis, Palmer, Mark ...

– background vocals (track 15) *

Vicente Archer Vicente Archer (born in Woodstock, New York ) is an American jazz bassist, composer and bandleader having performed with John Scofield, Nicholas Payton, Robert Glasper, Norah Jones, Amos Lee and many others. He has appeared on 5 Grammy Nominate ...

– bass (track 15) * Jacqueline Kerrod – harp (track 15) Technical * Sufjan Stevens –

production Production may refer to: Economics and business * Production (economics) * Production, the act of manufacturing goods * Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services) * Production as a stat ...

(tracks 1–11) * John Legend – production (tracks 7, 12) * Clare Manchon – production,

engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

, recording arrangement (tracks 13–15) * Olivier Manchon – production, engineering, recording

arrangement In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchestr ...

(tracks 13–15) *

Dave Kutch Dave Kutch is the owner of the Mastering Palace and an American mastering engineer who has been nominated for 14 Grammy Awards. He has worked with international artists including Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Alicia Keys, Blackpink, Karol G, Zara ...

– mastering *

Serban Ghenea Serban Ghenea () is a Canadian audio engineer and mixer. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award a total of 45 times and has won 21 times. Early life and education Ghenea was born in Romania, and in 1976 he moved to Montreal with his family. H ...

– mixing * Tim McClain – engineering * Billy Hickey – engineering (tracks 1–3, 5–12) * Sufjan Stevens – engineering (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8–11) * Fabio Patrignani – engineering (tracks 3, 7) * Patrick Dillon Curry – engineering (tracks 8, 11) * Sam Evian – engineering (tracks 8, 11) * James McAlister – engineering (tracks 13–15) * Pete Rende – engineering (tracks 13, 15) * Thomas Deis – engineering (tracks 13, 15) * Alex Venguer – engineering (tracks 14, 15) * Hideaki Aomori – engineering (tracks 14, 15) * Gail Ann Dorsey – engineering (track 14) * Jacqueline Kerrod – engineering (track 15) *

Kendrick Scott Kendrick Scott (born July 8, 1980 in Houston, Texas, United States) is an American jazz drummer, bandleader, and composer. He is the founder of the record label World Culture Music. Biography Kendrick A.D. Scott was born and raised in Houston. ...

– engineering (track 15) * Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance * Matt Jones – string

(tracks 8, 11)

Notes

References

{{Authority control John Legend albums 2024 albums Children's music albums by American artists Albums produced by Sufjan Stevens Albums produced by John Legend