20 Facts About the Song [Video]

It’s impossible to name the definitive work of Quincy Jones, the multi-disciplinary maestro who died on Nov. 3 after helping shape nearly every artistic medium for more than 60 years. But one that first leaps to mind is likely “Thriller,” Michael Jackson‘s spooky funk-pop smash that served as the title track to the most commercially successful album in history. Like Jones himself, who produced the record, the perennial Halloween anthem was a multi-media affair, encompassing music, film, television, dance and fashion.

More than 40 years since its release in 1982, “Thriller” represents an apex of artistic collaboration by a creative team at the peak of their powers. Moreover, it continues to fill dance floors across the globe.

Read on to learn more about the all-time music classic, and for more behind-the-scenes stories and little-known details about “Thriller,“ check out the recent episode of the iHeartRadio podcast Too Much Information, hosted by former PEOPLE editors Jordan Runtagh and Alex Heigl.

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