Photos: On this day – November 30, 1982 – Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, the best-selling album of all time, is released

Posted Nov 30, 2012

On this day – November 30, 1982 – Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, became—and currently remains—the best-selling album of all time, with sales estimated by various sources as being between 65 and 110 million copies worldwide, and is also tied with Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) by the Eagles as the best-selling album in the United States.The album won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards at the 1984 Grammys.Of the nine tracks on the album, four of them were written by Jackson himself. Seven singles were released from the album, all of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Thriller was ranked number 20 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2003,and was listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers at number three in its Definitive 200 Albums of All Time. The Thriller album was included in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry of culturally significant recordings, and the Thriller video was included in the National Film Preservation Board’s National Film Registry of “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films”. In 2012, Slant Magazine listed the album at #1 on its list of “Best Albums of the 1980s”. (AP,Wikipedia)

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The album cover to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
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Confetti falls everywhere as young dancers surround superstar Michael Jackson at New York's Natural History Museum, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1984. Jackson was honored for his successful "Thriller" album by CBS Records chief Walter Yetnikoff. The museum's collection of stuffed elephants and other animals was the setting for the party. "Jackson specifically asked that it be held here because he was interested in animals and natural history," said a spokesman for the museum. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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Actress Jane Fonda holds up a copy of her ?Jane Fonda?s Workout Record? in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 26, 1983 which she presented to recording artist Michael Jackson, left, which contains one of Jackson?s songs. Fonda also presented Jackson with his double platinum award for ?Thriller? which includes the song ?This Girls is Mine,? sung with Paul McCartney. (AP photo/Wally Fong)
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Confetti falls everywhere as young dancers surround superstar Michael Jackson at New York's Natural History Museum, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1984. Jackson was honored for his successful "Thriller" album by CBS Records chief Walter Yetnikoff. The museum's collection of stuffed elephants and other animals was the setting for the party. "Jackson specifically asked that it be held here because he was interested in animals and natural history," said a spokesman for the museum. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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Michael Jackson, left, and Quincy Jones share the spotlight after being honored in the Producer of the Year category at the 26th annual Grammy Awards presentation, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 1984, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo)
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Producers of the Year Michael Jackson, left, and Quincy Jones pose with their Grammy Awards at ceremonies at the Shrine Auditorium, Feb. 28, 1984, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
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Producers of the Year Michael Jackson, left, and Quincy Jones pose with their Grammy Awards at ceremonies at the Shrine Auditorium, Feb. 28, 1984, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
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Michael Jackson, center, nominated for 12 Grammys in 10 categories, arrives backstage with actress Brooke Shields, left, at the Shrine Auditorium for the 26th annual Grammy Awards presentation, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 1984, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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Comedian Steve Martin mimics singer Michael Jackson in a parody of Jackson's rock music video of "Billy Jean" during taping in New York, Jan 6, 1984 of NBC-TV's program, "The New Show." (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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The LJN Toy Company introduced the Michael Jackson doll on Thursday, June 29, 1984 in New York. The doll is the first official one that has been approved by the popular singer. The doll, show in its "Thriller" costume will be in stores in mid-August and will retail for approximately $13.00. (AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis)
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Actress Brooke Shields and singer Michael Jackson are full of smiles as they arrive Monday night, January 16, 1984 for the 11th Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
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Actress Brooke Shields and singer Michael Jackson are shown as they arrive Monday night, January 16, 1984 for the 11th Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
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Actress Brooke Shields and singer Michael Jackson are shown as they arrive Monday night, January 16, 1984 for the 11th Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
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Michael Jackson and Brooke Shields attend the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, Jan 16, 1984. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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Michael Jackson receives an award at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, Jan. 16, 1984. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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Singer Diana Ross gives Michael Jackson a good luck kiss after he was honored with a special Award of Merit during the 11th annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 17, 1984. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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Michael Jackson responds to the audience applause after receiving his American Music award for his No. 1 single ?Billie Jean,? which earned favorite pop single honors at the 11th annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Monday, Jan. 17, 1984. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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Singer Michael Jackson, left, and actress Brooke Shields shown at party at the Museum of Natural History thrown by CBS-Epic Records honoring Jackson for record sales, Feb. 7, 1984, New York. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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Singer Michael Jackson, left, shown at party at the Museum of Natural History honoring him for record sales thrown by CBS-Epic Records, as an unidentified official reads awards and letters to him, Feb. 7, 1984, New York. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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Singer Michael Jackson, center, shown at party at the Museum of Natural History honoring him for record sales thrown by CBS-Epic Records, Feb. 7, 1984, New York. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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Singer Michael Jackson, right, shown at party at the Museum of Natural History honoring him for record sales thrown by CBS-Epic Records, Feb. 7, 1984, New York. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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Singer Michael Jackson, center, shown at party at the Museum of Natural History honoring him for record sales thrown by CBS-Epic Records, Feb. 7, 1984, New York. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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Superstar Michael Jackson unveils a life-size statue of himself at the Guiness Museum of World Records on June 9, 1984 at San Francisco Fisherman?s wharf. Jackson has the most successful LP in history for his record ?Thriller.? (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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A life-size statue of Michael Jackson is shown at the Guiness Museum of World Records on June 9, 1984 at San Francisco Fisherman?s wharf. Jackson has the most successful LP in history for his record ?Thriller.? (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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Superstar Michael Jackson unveils a life-size statue of himself at the Guiness Museum of World Records on June 9, 1984 at San Francisco Fisherman?s wharf. Jackson has the most successful LP in history for his record ?Thriller.? (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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Michael Jackson, left, and unidentified dancer perform during Wednesday, March 2, 1988 Grammy Awards ceremony at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Jackson, whose album "Thriller" won eight Grammy in 1984, saw his follow-up LP, "Bad," win only one this time around, for best-produced non-classical recording. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
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Michael Jackson with unidentified dancers performs during Wednesday, March 2, 1988 Grammy Awards ceremony at New York's Radio City Music Hall.Jackson's album "Thriller" won eight Grammys in 1984 but "Bad" won only one, for best produced non-classical recording. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)