My Favorite Dream

My Favorite Dream is the first children's album and tenth studio album by American singer John Legend. It was released on August 30, 2024, through John Legend Music Inc. and Republic Records. The album includes the single "L-O-V-E". It follows up his 2022 album Legend (2022).

The album is entirely produced by Sufjan Stevens.

Background and conception

My Favorite Dream marks Legend's first entry into children's music. Legend stated his idea for the album came from learning the Fisher-Price song "Maybe" on the piano. Chrissy Teigen, 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!.

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, 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.

Track listing

Personnel

Musicians

• John Legend – lead vocals (all tracks), background vocals (1, 5, 7, 8, 11), piano (7, 12)
• Sufjan Stevens – background vocals (tracks 1–11), drums, percussion, piano (1–6, 8–11); celesta (1–6, 9, 10), acoustic guitar (1–3, 5, 6), vibraphone (1, 2, 4, 9), drum machine (1, 3–6), bagpipes (1, 5, 6); alto recorder, tenor recorder (2–6, 10); sopranino recorder (2–4, 6, 10), recorder (2, 3, 5, 6, 10), ukulele (2, 9), electric guitar (3–6, 11), electric bass (3, 7, 8), banjo (3), keyboards (4); conga, 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 (3, 4), tuba (3, 6), trumpet (4), horn (13)
• Matt Bauder – flute, tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 9, 11); baritone saxophone (1, 2, 4–6), soprano saxophone (2), alto saxophone (4–6, 9)
• David Lizmi – electric bass (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 9), double bass (10, 11)
• Parker Kindred – drums (track 1)
• Chris Thile – mandolin (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 – bass (track 3)
• Munyungo Jackson – percussion (track 3)
• Sam Evian – electric guitar (tracks 4, 8)
• Chrissy Teigen – background vocals (track 4)
• Miles Stephens – background vocals (track 4)
• Luna Stephens – background vocals (track 4)
• Matt Jones Orchestra – chamber orchestra (tracks 8, 11)
• Hakeem Holloway – bass (track 8)
• Abby Gundersen – cello, viola, violin (track 10)
• Maeve Gilchrist – harp (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, vibraphone (15)
• Gail Ann Dorsey – background vocals (track 13), bass (14)
• James McAlister – drums (tracks 13–15), percussion (14, 15)
• Thomas Deis – guitar (tracks 13, 14)
• Hideaki Aomori – woodwinds (tracks 14, 15)
• Anita Balázs – cello (track 14)
• Anthea White – background vocals (track 15)
• Mark Palmer – background vocals (track 15)
• Vicente Archer – bass (track 15)
• Jacqueline Kerrod – harp (track 15)

Technical

• Sufjan Stevens – production (tracks 1–11)
• John Legend – production (tracks 7, 12)
• Clare Manchon – production, engineering, recording arrangement (tracks 13–15)
• Olivier Manchon – production, engineering, recording arrangement (tracks 13–15)
• Dave Kutch – mastering
• Serban Ghenea – 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 – engineering (track 15)
• Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance
• Matt Jones – string arrangement (tracks 8, 11)

Notes

References