Michael Jackson’s sixth studio album, “Thriller,” was released 35 years ago, on Nov. 30, 1982.

The critically acclaimed album sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards and broke down racial barriers on radio and television networks like MTV. The global impact of the “King of Pop” could be measured in album sales (close to 1 billion) but is also evident in the statues of Mr. Jackson that have been erected in countries like Australia, Brazil, China and Italy.

While the album was released more than three decades ago, songs from it, including “Thriller,” “Billie Jean” and “Beat It,” still play regularly on the radio and in nightclubs. The YouTube uploads of some of those songs have hundreds of millions of views: One link for “Beat It” has 300 million.

“Beat It” was the third single from “Thriller” to be released after hits like “The Girl Is Mine” and “Billie Jean,” and features a dance routine that brings two rival gangs together. Over the years, the song has been sampled by Justin Bieber, Fergie and Eminem, to name a few.