Finally, proof for all the skeptics that Elvis Presley is alive and well. Just one minute fans, don’t hold your breath waiting for the King to step through the gates of Graceland. Instead, look for life in the new Presley collection, “Elvis 30 #1 Hits.”

So, what makes this Elvis collection so much better than the other 10 million collections gracing store shelves? The answer to that lies in the fine printing found on the back of the album, “mixed and mastered from original master tapes for optimum sound quality.”

-After a listen to the first sounds of “Heartbreak Hotel,” the album’s first track, “optimum sound quality” is an understatement. The last people to hear Elvis this clear and this coherent were the people present in the room when he recorded these tracks. Buy this CD and you’ll find yourself looking around, expecting to see the King singing right in front of you.

The selection of songs for the disc has caused some controversy among die-hard fans. Sure, Elvis had tons of number one hits on the pop charts. What many may not know is that he had number one hits on the country charts, on the Billboard R&B Charts and in the United Kingdom. In other words, the album’s producers had their hands full when making the final selections.

Of course, instant classics like “Don’t Be Cruel,” “All Shook Up,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Suspicious Minds” made the cut. Included as a bonus track is the new “A Little Less Conversation” remix by JXL. Though many Elvis fans may be angered that the original version of the song is nowhere to be found on the disc, many younger, new fans will be happy that this remix is included.

The album’s insert is delightfully large with interesting facts about each song on the disc. For example, did you know that the idea for “Heartbreak Hotel” came from a suicide note printed in the Miami Herald? Or that Elvis’ camp was worried about him singing “In The Ghetto,” fearing the attention it drew to social and racial issues?

Overall, “Elvis 30 #1 Hits” is perhaps the greatest Elvis collection ever. Elvis once said “ambition is a dream with a V8 engine.” If this disc does anything, it illustrates the extent of the King’s ambition and shows that the dreams he had are still alive and well.