Greatest Hits is the second compilation album by American singer Mariah Carey, released in the United States on December 4, 2001 by Columbia Records. It is a greatest hits double album: CD 1 is primarily a collection of Carey's hits from 1990 to 1995, while CD 2 is primarily a collection of hits from 1996 to 2000. In 2011, the album was re-issued outside the US with the same track listing, under the title of The Essential Mariah Carey. In 2012, The Essential Mariah Carey was released in North America with a slightly different track listing, replacing some hits with their extended club mixes, and others being completely removed in favor of tracks that had not been released as singles.